Andrew Lang_Fairy Book 01 (47 page)

"Indeed, sir," answered the merchant, "he was in his
right senses yesterday; I can assure you he is one of the
ablest criers we have, and the most employed of any
when anything valuable is to be sold. And if he cries
the ivory perspective glass at thirty purses it must be
worth as much or more, on some account or other. He
will come by presently, and we will call him, and you
shall be satisfied; in the meantime sit down on my sofa,
and rest yourself."

Prince Ali accepted the merchant's obliging offer, and
presently afterward the crier passed by. The merchant
called him by his name, and, pointing to the Prince,
said to him: "Tell that gentleman, who asked me if
you were in your right senses, what you mean by crying
that ivory perspective glass, which seems not to be
worth much, at thirty purses. I should be very much
amazed myself if I did not know you." The crier,
addressing himself to Prince Ali, said: "Sir, you are not
the only person that takes me for a madman on account
of this perspective glass. You shall judge yourself
whether I am or no, when I have told you its property
and I hope you will value it at as high a price as those I
have showed it to already, who had as bad an opinion
of me as you.

"First, sir," pursued the crier, presenting the ivory
pipe to the Prince, "observe that this pipe is furnished
with a glass at both ends; and consider that by looking
through one of them you see whatever object you wish
to behold." "I am," said the Prince, "ready to make you
all imaginable reparation for the scandal I have thrown
on you if you will make the truth of what you advance
appear," and as he had the ivory pipe in his hand, after
he had looked at the two glasses he said: "Show me at
which of these ends I must look that I may be satisfied."
The crier presently showed him, and he looked
through, wishing at the same time to see the Sultan his
father, whom he immediately beheld in perfect health,
set on his throne, in the midst of his council. Afterward,
as there was nothing in the world so dear to him,
after the Sultan, as the Princess Nouronnihar, he wished
to see her; and saw her at her toilet laughing, and in a
pleasant humor, with her women about her.

Prince Ali wanted no other proof to be persuaded that
this perspective glass was the most valuable thing in
the world, and believed that if he should neglect to
purchase it he should never meet again with such another
rarity. He therefore took the crier with him to the
khan where he lodged, and counted him out the money,
and received the perspective glass.

Prince Ali was overjoyed at his bargain, and
persuaded himself that, as his brothers would not be able
to meet with anything so rare and admirable, the Princess
Nouronnihar would be the recompense of his fatigue
and trouble; that he thought of nothing but visiting the
Court of Persia incognito, and seeing whatever was
curious in Schiraz and thereabouts, till the caravan
with which he came returned back to the Indies. As
soon as the caravan was ready to set out, the Prince
joined them, and arrived happily without any accident
or trouble, otherwise than the length of the journey and
fatigue of traveling, at the place of rendezvous, where he
found Prince Houssain, and both waited for Prince
Ahmed.

Prince Ahmed, who took the road of Samarcand, the
next day after his arrival there went, as his brothers
had done, into the bezestein, where he had not walked
long but heard a crier, who had an artificial apple in
his hand, cry it at five and thirty purses; upon which
he stopped the crier, and said to him: "Let me see that
apple, and tell me what virtue and extraordinary
properties it has, to be valued at so high a rate." "Sir,"
said the crier, giving it into his hand, "if you look at the
outside of this apple, it is very worthless, but if you
consider its properties, virtues, and the great use and benefit
it is to mankind, you will say it is no price for it, and that
he who possesses it is master of a great treasure. In
short, it cures all sick persons of the most mortal diseases;
and if the patient is dying it will recover him immediately
and restore him to perfect health; and this is
done after the easiest manner in the world, which is by
the patient's smelling the apple."

"If I may believe you," replied Prince Ahmed, "the
virtues of this apple are wonderful, and it is invaluable;
but what ground have I, for all you tell me, to be
persuaded of the truth of this matter?" "Sir," replied the
crier, "the thing is known and averred by the whole
city of Samarcand; but, without going any further, ask
all these merchants you see here, and hear what they
say. You will find several of them will tell you they
had not been alive this day if they had not made use of
this excellent remedy. And, that you may better
comprehend what it is, I must tell you it is the fruit of the
study and experiments of a celebrated philosopher of
this city, who applied himself all his lifetime to the study
and knowledge of the virtues of plants and minerals,
and at last attained to this composition, by which he
performed such surprising cures in this town as will
never be forgot, but died suddenly himself, before he
could apply his sovereign remedy, and left his wife and
a great many young children behind him, in very indifferent
circumstances, who, to support her family and
provide for her children, is resolved to sell it."

While the crier informed Prince Ahmed of the virtues
of the artificial apple, a great many persons came about
them and confirmed what he said; and one among the
rest said he had a friend dangerously ill, whose life was
despaired of; and that was a favorable opportunity to
show Prince Ahmed the experiment. Upon which
Prince Ahmed told the crier he would give him forty
purses if he cured the sick person.

The crier, who had orders to sell it at that price, said
to Prince Ahmed: "Come, sir, let us go and make the
experiment, and the apple shall be yours; and I can assure
you that it will always have the desired effect."
In short, the experiment succeeded, and the Prince, after
he had counted out to the crier forty purses, and he had
delivered the apple to him, waited patiently for the first
caravan that should return to the Indies, and arrived
in perfect health at the inn where the Princes Houssain
and Ali waited for him.

When the Princes met they showed each other their
treasures, and immediately saw through the glass that
the Princess was dying. They then sat down on the
carpet, wished themselves with her, and were there in a
moment.

Prince Ahmed no sooner perceived himself in Nouronnihar's
chamber than he rose off the tapestry, as did
also the other two Princes, and went to the bedside, and
put the apple under her nose; some moments after the
Princess opened her eyes, and turned her head from
one side to another, looking at the persons who stood
about her; and then rose up in the bed, and asked to be
dressed, just as if she had waked out of a sound sleep.
Her women having presently informed her, in a manner
that showed their joy, that she was obliged to the
three Princes for the sudden recovery of her health, and
particularly to Prince Ahmed, she immediately expressed
her joy to see them, and thanked them all together, and
afterward Prince Ahmed in particular.

While the Princess was dressing the Princes went to
throw themselves at the Sultan their father's feet, and
pay their respects to him. But when they came before
him they found he had been informed of their arrival
by the chief of the Princess's eunuchs, and by what
means the Princess had been perfectly cured. The
Sultan received and embraced them with the greatest
joy, both for their return and the recovery of the
Princess his niece, whom he loved as well as if she had been
his own daughter, and who had been given over by the
physicians. After the usual ceremonies and compliments
the Princes presented each his rarity: Prince
Houssain his tapestry, which he had taken care not to
leave behind him in the Princess's chamber; Prince Ali
his ivory perspective glass, and Prince Ahmed his
artificial apple; and after each had commended their present,
when they put it into the Sultan's hands, they begged
of him to pronounce their fate, and declare to which
of them he would give the Princess Nouronnihar for a
wife, according to his promise.

The Sultan of the Indies, having heard, without
interrupting them, all that the Princes could represent
further about their rarities, and being well informed of
what had happened in relation to the Princess Nouronnihar's
cure, remained some time silent, as if he were
thinking on what answer he should make. At last he
broke the silence, and said to them: "I would declare
for one of you children with a great deal of pleasure if
I could do it with justice; but consider whether I can
do it or no. 'Tis true, Prince Ahmed, the Princess my
niece is obliged to your artificial apple for her cure; but
I must ask you whether or no you could have been so
serviceable to her if you had not known by Prince Ali's
perspective glass the danger she was in, and if Prince
Houssain's tapestry had not brought you so soon. Your
perspective glass, Prince Ali, informed you and your
brothers that you were like to lose the Princess your
cousin, and there you must own a great obligation.

"You must also grant that that knowledge would have
been of no service without the artificial apple and the
tapestry. And lastly, Prince Houssain, the Princess
would be very ungrateful if she should not show her
acknowledgment of the service of your tapestry, which
was so necessary a means toward her cure. But consider,
it would have been of little use if you had not
been acquainted with the Princess's illness by Prince
Ali's glass, and Prince Ahmed had not applied his
artificial apple. Therefore, as neither tapestry, ivory
perspective glass, nor artificial apple have the least
preference one before the other, but, on the contrary, there's a
perfect equality, I cannot grant the Princess to ally one
of you; and the only fruit you have reaped from your
travels is the glory of having equally contributed to
restore her health.

"If all this be true," added the Sultan, "you see that
I must have recourse to other means to determine certainly
in the choice I ought to make among you; and
that, as there is time enough between this and night,
I'll do it to-day. Go and get each of you a bow and
arrow, and repair to the great plain, where they exercise
horses. I'll soon come to you, and declare I will give
the Princess Nouronnihar to him that shoots the farthest."

The three Princes had nothing to say against the
decision of the Sultan. When they were out of his presence
they each provided themselves with a bow and arrow,
which they delivered to one of their officers, and
went to the plain appointed, followed by a great
concourse of people.

The Sultan did not make them wait long for him,
and as soon as he arrived Prince Houssain, as the eldest,
took his bow and arrow and shot first; Prince Ali shot
next, and much beyond him; and Prince Ahmed last
of all, but it so happened that nobody could see where
his arrow fell; and, notwithstanding all the diligence that
was used by himself and everybody else, it was not to
be found far or near. And though it was believed that
he shot the farthest, and that he therefore deserved the
Princess Nouronnihar, it was, however, necessary that
his arrow should be found to make the matter more
evident and certain; and, notwithstanding his remonstrance,
the Sultan judged in favor of Prince Ali, and
gave orders for preparations to be made for the wedding,
which was celebrated a few days after with great
magnificence.

Prince Houssain would not honor the feast with his
presence. In short, his grief was so violent and insupportable
that he left the Court, and renounced all right
of succession to the crown, to turn hermit.

Prince Ahmed, too, did not come to Prince Ali's and
the Princess Nouronnihar's wedding any more than his
brother Houssain, but did not renounce the world as
he had done. But, as he could not imagine what had
become of his arrow, he stole away from his attendants
and resolved to search after it, that he might not have
anything to reproach himself with. With this intent he
went to the place where the Princes Houssain's and
Ali's were gathered up, and, going straight forward
from there, looking carefully on both sides of him, he
went so far that at last he began to think his labor was
all in vain; but yet he could not help going forward till
he came to some steep craggy rocks, which were bounds
to his journey, and were situated in a barren country,
about four leagues distant from where he set out.

When Prince Ahmed came pretty nigh to these rocks
he perceived an arrow, which he gathered up, looked
earnestly at it, and was in the greatest astonishment
to find it was the same he shot away. "Certainly,"
said he to himself, "neither I nor any man living could
shoot an arrow so far," and, finding it laid flat, not
sticking into the ground, he judged that it rebounded
against the rock. "There must be some mystery in
this," said he to himself again, "and it may be
advantageous to me. Perhaps fortune, to make me amends
for depriving me of what I thought the greatest happiness,
may have reserved a greater blessing for my comfort."

As these rocks were full of caves and some of those
caves were deep, the Prince entered into one, and, looking
about, cast his eyes on an iron door, which seemed
to have no lock, but he feared it was fastened. However,
thrusting against it, it opened, and discovered an
easy descent, but no steps, which he walked down with
his arrow in his hand. At first he thought he was going
into a dark, obscure place, but presently a quite different
light succeeded that which he came out of, and, entering
into a large, spacious place, at about fifty or
sixty paces distant, he perceived a magnificent palace,
which he had not then time enough to look at. At the
same time a lady of majestic port and air advanced as
far as the porch, attended by a large troop of ladies, so
finely dressed and beautiful that it was difficult to
distinguish which was the mistress.