The History of Codadad and His Brothers - Part I

There formerly reigned in the city of Harran a most
magnificent and potent sultan, who loved his subjects,
and was equally beloved by them. He was endued
with all virtues, and wanted nothing to complete his happiness
but an heir. He continually prayed to Heaven for a child ; and
one night in his sleep, a prophet appeared to him and said : " Your
prayers are heard; you have obtained w^hat you have desired;
rise as soon as you awake, go to your prayers, and make two
genuflexions ; then walk into the garden of your palace, call your
gardener, and bid him bring you a pomegranate ; eat as many of
the seeds as you please, and your wishes shall be accomplished."
The sultan calling to mind his dream when he awoke, returned
thanks to Heaven, got up, prayed, made two genuflexions, and
then w^ent into his garden, where he took fifty pomegranate seeds,
w^iich he counted, and ate. Some time afterward forty-nine
of his wives presented him with sons, each one as vigorous as a
young palm-tree, but Pirouze, the fiftieth wife, remained child-
less. The sultan, therefore, took an aversion to this lady and
would have had her put to death had not his vizier prevented
him, advising rather that she be sent to Samaria, to her brother.
Sultan Samer, with orders that she be well treated.

Not long after Pirouze had been retired to her brother's
country, a most beautiful prince was born to her. The prince of
Samaria wrote immediately to the sultan of Harran, to acquaint
him with the birth of a son, and to congratulate him on the oc-
casion. The sultan was much rejoiced at this intelligence, and
answered Prince Samer as follows: "Cousin, all my other wives
have each presented me with a prince. I desire you to educate
the child of Pirouze, to give him the name of Codadad, and to
send him to me when I may apply for him."

The prince of Samaria spared nothing that might improve
the education of his nephew. He taught him to ride, draw the
bow, and all other accomplishments becoming the son of a
sovereign; so that Codadad, at eighteen years of age, was looked
upon as a prodigy. The young prince, being inspired with a
courage worthy his birth, said one day to his mother: "Madam,
I begin to grow weary of Samaria; I feel a passion for glory;
give me leave to seek it amidst the perils of war. My father the
sultan of Harran has many enemies. Why does he not call me
to his assistance ? Must I spend my life in sloth, when all my
brothers have the happiness to be fighting by his side.^" "My
son," answered Pirouze, "I am no less impatient to have your
name become famous; I could wish you had already signalised
yourself against your father's enemies; but we must wait till
he requires it." "No, madam," replied Codadad, "I have
already waited too long. I burn to see the sultan, and am
tempted to offer him my service, as a young stranger: no doubt
but he will accept of it, and I will not discover myself till I have
performed some glorious actions." Pirouze approved of his
generous resolutions, and Codadad departed from Samaria, as
if he had been going to the chase, without acquainting Prince
Samer, lest he should thwart his design.

He was mounted on a white charger, who had a bit and shoes
of gold, his housing was of blue satin embroidered with pearls;
the hilt of his cimeter was of one single diamond, and the scabbard
of sandalwood, adorned with emeralds and rubies, and on his
shoulder he carried his bow and quiver. In this equipage, which
greatly set off his handsome person, he arrived at the city of
Harran, and soon found means to offer his service to the sultan ;
who being charmed with his beauty, and perhaps indeed by
natural sympathy, gave him a favourable reception, and asked
his name and quality. *'Sir," answered Codadad, "I am son to
an emir of Grand Cairo; an inclination to travel has made me
quit my country, and understanding that you were engaged in
war, I am come to your court to offer your majesty my service."
The sultan, upon hearing this, shewed him extraordinary kind-
ness, and gave him a command in his army.

The young prince soon gained the esteem of the officers, and
was admired by the soldiers. Having no less wit than courage,
he so far advanced himself in the sultan's esteem, as to become
his favourite. All the ministers and other courtiers daily resorted
to Codadad, and were so eager to purchase his friendship, that
they neglected the sultan's sons. The princes could not but
resent this conduct, and all conceived an implacable hatred
against him; but the sultan's affection daily increasing, he was
never weary of giving him fresh testimonies of his regard. He
always would have him near his person; and to shew his high
opinion of his wisdom and prudence, committed to his care the
other princes, though he was of the same age as they; so that
Codadad was made governor of his brothers.

This only served to heighten their hatred. 'Ts it come to
this," said they, "that the sultan, not satisfied with loving a
stranger more than us, will have him to be our governor, and not
allow us to act without his leave.? This is not to be endured.
We must rid ourselves of this foreigner." "Let us go together,"
said one of them, "and despatch him." "No, no," answered
another; "we had better be cautious how we sacrifice ourselves.
His death would render us odious to the sultan. Let us destroy
him by some stratagem. We will ask his permission to hunt, and,
when at a distance from the palace, proceed to some other city
and stay there some time. The sultan will wonder at our absence,
and perceiving we do not return, perhaps put the stranger to
death, or at least will banish him from court, for suffering us to
leave the palace."

All the princes applauded this artifice. They went together
to Codadad, and desired him to allow them to take the diversion
of hunting, promising to return the same day. Pirouze's son
was taken in the snare, and granted the permission his brothers
desired. They set out, but never returned. They had been
three days absent, when the sultan asked Codadad where the
princes were, for it was long since he had seen them. "Sir,"
answered Codadad, after making a profound reverence, "they
have been hunting these three days, but they promised me they
would return sooner." The sultan grew uneasy, and his uneasi-
ness increased when he perceived the princes did not return the
next day. He could not check his anger : " Indiscreet stranger,"
said he to Codadad, "why did you let my sons go without bearing
them company ? Go, seek them immediately, and bring them
to me, or your life shall be forfeited."

These words chilled with alarm Pirouze's unfortunate son.
He armed himself, departed from the city, and like a shepherd
who had lost his flock, searched the country for his brothers,
inquiring at every village whether they had been seen ; but hear-
ing no news of them, abandoned himself to the most lively grief.
He was inconsolable for having given the princes permission
to hunt, or for not having borne them company.

After some days spent in fruitless search, he came to a plain of
prodigious extent, in the midst whereof was a palace built of
black marble. He drew near, and at one of the windows beheld
a most beautiful lady; but set off with no other ornament than
her own charms; for her hair was dishevelled, her garments torn,
and on her countenance appeared all the marks of affliction.
As soon as she saw Codadad, and judged he might hear her, she
directed her discourse to him, saying: "Young man, depart from
this fatal place, or you will soon fall into the hands of the monster
that inhabits it: a black, who feeds only on human blood, resides
in this palace; he seizes all persons whom their ill fate conducts
to this plain, and shuts them up in his dungeons, whence they are
never released, but to be devoured by him."

"Madam," answered Codadad, "tell me who you are, and
be not concerned for myself." " I am a lady of quality of Grand
Cairo," replied the captive; "I was passing by this castle yester-
day, on my way to Bagdad, and met with the black, who killed
all my attendants, and brought me hither. I beg of you," she
cried, "to make your escape: the black will soon return; he is
gone out to pursue some travellers he espied at a distance on the
plain. Lose no time, but fly."

She had scarcely done speaking before the black appeared.
He was of monstrous bulk, and of a dreadful aspect, mounted on
a large Tartar horse, and bore a heavy cimeter, that none but
himself could wield. The prince seeing him, was amazed at his
gigantic stature, directed his prayers to Heaven to assist him, then
drew his own cimeter, and firmly awaited his approach. The
monster, despising so inconsiderable an enemy, called to him to
submit without fighting. Codadad by his conduct shewed that
he was resolved to defend his life ; for rushing upon the black, he
wounded him on the knee. The monster, feeling himself
wounded, uttered such a dreadful yell as made all the plain
resound. He grew furious and foamed with rage, and raising
himself on his stirrups, made at Codadad with his dreadful
cimeter. The blow was so violent, that it would have put an
end to the young prince, had not he avoided it by a sudden
spring. The cimeter made a horrible hissing in the air: but,
before the black could have time to make a second blow,Codadad
struck him on his right arm with such force that he cut it off.
The dreadful cimeter fell with the hand that held it, and the black,
yielding under the violence of the stroke, lost his stirrups, and
made the earth shake with the weight of his fall. The prince
alighted at the same time, and cut off his enemy's head. Just
then the lady, who had been a spectator of the combat, and was
still offering up her earnest prayers to Heaven for the young hero,
uttered a shriek of joy, and said to Codadad: "Prince and
Deliverer, finish the work you have begun; the black has the
keys of this castle, take them and deliver me out of prison."

The prince searched the wretch as he lay stretched on the
ground, and found several keys. He opened the first door, and
entered a court, where he saw the lady coming to meet him ; she
would have cast herself at his feet, the better to express her
gratitude, but he would not permit her. She commended his
valour, and extolled him above all the heroes in the world. He
returned her compliments; and she appeared still more lovely
to him near, than she had done at a distance. I know not
whether she felt more joy at being delivered from the desperate
danger she had been in, than he for having done so considerable a
service to so beautiful a person.

Their conversation was interrupted by dismal cries and
groans. "What do I hear.^" said Codadad; "whence come
these miserable lamentations, which pierce my ears.^" "My
lord," said the lady, pointing to a little door in the court, "they
come from thence. There are I know not how many wretched
persons whom fate has thrown into the hands of the black.

They are all chained, and the monster drew out one every day to
devour."

*'It is an addition to my joy," answered the young prince, *'to
understand that my victory will save the lives of those unfortunate
beino-s. Come with me, madam, to partake in the satisfaction
of giving them their liberty." Having so said, they advanced
toward the door of the dungeon, where Codadad, pitying them,
and impatient to put an end to their sufferings, presently put one
of the keys into the lock. The noise made all the unfortunate
captives, who concluded it was the black coming, according to
custom, to seize one of them to devour, redouble their cries and
groans.

In the meantime, the prince had opened the door ; he went
down a steep staircase into a deep vault, which received some
feeble light from a little window, and in which there were above
a hundred persons, bound to stakes. "Unfortunate travellers,"
said he to them, "who only expected the moment of an approach- .
ing death, give thanks to Heaven which has this day delivered
you by my means. I have slain the black by whom you w^ere to
be devoured, and am come to knock off your chains." The
prisoners hearing these words, gave a shout of mingled joy and
surprise. Codadad and the lady began to unbind them; and
as soon as any of them were loose, they helped to take off the
fetters from the rest; so that in a short time they were all at
liberty.

They then kneeled down, and having returned thanks to
Codadad for what he had done for them, vy^ent out of the dungeon ;
but when they were come into the court, how was the prince
surprised to see among the prisoners those he was in search of,
and almost without hopes to find! "Princes," cried he, "is it
you whom I behold ? May I flatter myself that it is in my
power to restore you to the sultan your father, who is inconsolable
for the loss of you ? Are you all here alive ? Alas ! the death of
one of you will suflSce to damp the joy I feel for having delivered
you."

The forty-nine princes all made themselves known to Coda-
dad, who embraced them one after another, and told them how
uneasy their father was on account of their absence. They gave
their deliverer all the commendations he deserved, as did the
other prisoners, who could not find words expressive enough to
declare their gratitude. Codadad, with them, searched the
whole castle, where was immense wealth: curious silks, gold
brocades, Persian carpets, China satins, and an infinite quantity
of other goods, which the black had taken from the caravans
he had plundered, a considerable part whereof belonged to the
prisoners Codadad had then liberated. Every- man knew and
claimed his property. The prince restored them their own, and
divided the rest of the merchandise among them. Then he said
to them: "How will you carry away your goods ? We are here in
a desert place, and there is no likelihood of your getting horses."
*'My lord," answered one of the prisoners, "the black robbed us of
our camels, as well as of our goods, and perhaps they may be in
the stables of this castle." "That is not unlikely," replied
Codadad; "let us examine." Accordingly they went to the
stables, where they not only found the camels, but also the
horses belonging to the sultan of Harran's sons. AW the mer-
chants, overjoyed that they had recovered their goods and camels,
together with their liberty, thought of nothing but prosecuting
their journey; but first repeated their thanks to their deliverer.

When they were gone, Codadad, directing his discourse to
the lady, said: "What place, madam, do you desire to go to .^
I intend to bear "«^ou company to the spot you shall choose for
your retreat, and I question not but that all these princes will do
the same." The sultan of Harran's sons protested to the lady,
that they would not leave her till she was restored to her friends.

"Princes," said she, "I am of a country too remote from
here; and, besides that, it would be abusing your generosity
to oblige you to travel so far. I must confess that I have left
my native country for ever. I told you that I was a lady of
Grand Cairo; but since you have shewn me so much favour,
I should be much in the wrong in concealing the truth from you :
I am a sultan's daughter. A usurper has possessed himself
of my father's throne, after having murdered him, and I have
been forced to fly to save my life."

Codadad and his brothers requested the princess to tell them
her story, and after thanking them for their repeated protestations
of readiness to serve her, she could not refuse to satisfy their
curiosity, and began the recital of her adventures in the following
manner.

"There was in a certain island," said the princess, "a great
city called Deryabar, governed by a magnificent and virtuous
sultan, who had no children, which was the only blessing wanting
to make him happy. He continually addressed his prayers to
Heaven, but Heaven only partially granted his requests, for the
queen his wife, after a long expectation, brought forth a daughter.

" I am that unfortunate princess ; my father was rather grieved
than pleased at my birth; but he submitted to the will of God,
and caused me to be educated with all possible care, being re-
solved, since he had no son, to teach me the art of ruling, that
I might supply his place after his death.

"There w^as, at the court of Deryabar, an orphan youth of
good birth whom the sultan, my father, had befriended and
educated according to his rank. He was very handsome, and,
not wanting ability, found means to please my father, who con-
ceived a great friendship for him. All the courtiers perceived
it, and guessed that the young man might in the end be my
husband. In this idea, and looking on him already as heir to
the crown, they made their court to him, and every one endeav-
oured to gain his favour. He soon saw into their designs, and
forgetting the distance there was between our conditions, flattered
himself with the hopes that my father was fond enough of him to
prefer him before all the princes in the world. He went farther;
for the sultan not offering me to him as soon as he could have
wished, he had the boldness to ask me of him. Whatever pun-
ishment his insolence deserved, my father was satisfied with
telling him he had other thoughts in relation to me. The youth
was incensed at this refusal; he resented the contempt, as if he
had asked some maid of ordinary extraction, or as if his birth
had been equal to mine. Nor did he stop here, but resolved, to
be revenged on the sultan, and w^ith unparalleled ingratitude
conspired against him. In short, he murdered him, and caused
himself to be proclaimed sovereign of Deryabar. The grand
vizier, however, while the usurper was butchering my father came
to carry me away from the palace, and secured me in a friend's
house, till a vessel he had provided was ready to sail. I then left
the island, attended only by a governess and that generous
minister, who chose rather to follow his master's daughter than
to submit to a tyrant.

"The grand vizier designed to carry me to the courts of the
neighbouring sultans, to implore their assistance, and excite them
to revenge my father's death; but Heaven did not concur in a
resolution we thought so just. When we had been but a few
days at sea, there arose such a furious storm, that our vessel,
carried away by the violence of the winds and waves, was dashed
in pieces against a rock. My governess, the grand vizier, and all
that attended me, were swallowed up by the sea. I lost my
senses; and whether I was thrown upon the coast, or whether
Heaven wrought a miracle for my deliverance, I found myself
on shore when my senses returned.

"In my despair and horror I was on the point of casting
myseif into the sea again ; when I heard behind me a great noise
of men and horses. I looked about to see what it might be, and
espied several armed horsemen, among whom was one mounted
on an Arabian charger. He had on a garment embroidered
with silver, a girdle set with precious stones, and a crown of gold
on his head. Though his habit had not convinced me that he
was chief of the company, I should have judged it by the air of
grandeur which appeared in his person. He was a young man
extraordinarily well shaped, and perfectly beautiful. Surprised
to* see a young lady alone in that place, he sent some of his
oflScers to ask who I was. I answered only by weeping. The
shore being covered with the wreck of our ship, they concluded
that I was certainly some person who had escaped from the
vessel. This conjecture excited the curiosity of the officers, w^ho
began to ask me a thousand questions, with assurances that their
master was a generous prince, and that I should receive protec-
tion at his court.

" The sultan, impatient to know who I was, grew weary of
w^aiting the return of his officers, and drew near to me. He
gazed on me very earnestly, and observing that I did not cease
weeping, without being able to return an answer to their questions,
he forbade them troubling me any more; and directing his dis-
course to me: 'Madam,' said he, 'I conjure you to moderate
your excessive affliction. I dare assure you that, if your mis-
fortunes are capable of receiving any relief, you shall find it in
my dominions. You shall live with the queen my mother, who
will endeavour by her kindness to ease your affliction. I know
not yet who you are, but I find I already take an interest in your
welfare.'

"I thanked the young sultan for his goodness to me, accepted
his obliging offer; and to convince him that I was not unworthy
of them, told him my condition. When I had done speaking,
the prince assured me that he was deeply concerned at my mis-
fortunes. He then conducted me to his palace, and presented
me to the queen his mother, to whom I was obliged again to
repeat my misfortunes. The queen seemed very sensible of my
trouble, and conceived extreme affection for me. On the other
hand, the sultan her son fell desperately in love with me, and
soon offered me his hand and his crown. I was so taken up with
the thoughts of my calamities, that the prince, though so lovely a
person, did not make so great an impression on me as he might
have done at another time. However, gratitude prevailing,
I did not refuse to make him happy, and our nuptials were con-
cluded with all imaginable splendour.

"While the people were taken up with the celebration of
their sovereign's nuptials, a neighbouring prince, his enemy,
made a descent by night on the island with a great number of
troops and surprised and cut to pieces my husband's subjects.
We escaped very narrowly, for he had already entered the palace
with some of his followers; but we found means to slip away
and to get to the sea-coast, where we threw ourselves into a
fishing-boat which we had the good fortune to meet with. Two
days we were driven about by the winds, without knowing what
would become of us. The third day we espied a vessel making
toward us under sail. We rejoiced at first, believing it had
been a merchant-ship which might take us aboard ; but what was
our consternation, when, as it drew near, we saw ten or twelve
armed pirates appear on the deck. Having boarded, five or six
of them leaped into our boat, seized us, bound the prince, and
conveyed us into their ship, where they immediately took off
my veil. My youth and features touched them, and they all
declared how much they were charmed at the sight of me..
Instead of casting lots, each of them claimed the preference, and
me as his right. The dispute grew warm, they came to blows,
and fouo-ht like madmen. The deck was soon covered with
dead bodies, and they were all killed but one, who, being left sole
possessor of me, said: 'You are mine. I will carry you to Grand
Cairo, to deliver you to a friend of mine, to whom I have prom-
ised a beautiful slave. But who,' added he, looking upon the
sultan, my husband, 'is that man .^ What relation does he
bear to you .? Are you allied by blood or love .?' 'Sir,' answered
I, 'he is my husband.' 'If so,' replied the pirate, 'in pity I must
rid myself of him: it would be too great an affliction to him to
see you disposed of to another.' Having spoken these words, he
took up the unhappy prince, who was bound, and threw him into
the sea, notwithstanding all my endeavours to prevent him.

"I shrieked in a dreadful manner at the sight of what he had
done, and had certainly cast myself into the sea also, but that the
pirate held me. He saw my design, and therefore bound me
with cords to the main-mast, then hoisting sail, made toward
the land, and got ashore. He unbound me and led me to a
little town, where he bought camels, tents, and slaves, and then
set out for Grand Cairo, designing, as he still said, to present me
to his friend, according to his promise.

"We had been several days upon the road, when, as we
were crossing this plain yesterday, we descried the black who
inhabited this castle. At a distance w^e took him for a tower,

As it sair ten or twelve arvied pirates appear onr
the deck.
and when near us, could scarcely believe him to be a man. He
drew his huge cimeter, and summoned the pirate to yield himself
prisoner, with all his slaves and the lady he was conducting.
You know the end of this dreadful adventure and can foresee
what would have been my fate had you, generous prince, not
come to my deliverance."

As soon as the princess had finished the recital of her adven-
tures, Codadad declared to her that he was deeply concerned at
her misfortunes. *'But, madam," added he, "it shall be your
own fault if you do not live at ease for the future. The sultan
of Harran's sons offer you a safe retreat in the court of their
father; be pleased to accept of it, and if you do not disdain the
affection of your deliverer, permit me to assure you of it, and to
espouse you before all these princes ; let them be witnesses to our
contract." The princess consented, and the marriage was con-
cluded that very day in the castle, where they found all sorts of
provisions, with an abundance of delicious wine and other liquors.