The Arabian Nights

The Arabian Nights — page 5 — languages The Arabian Nights whom he could grow to trust and love over time he came up with the dreadful notion of marrying a new bride every day spending the evening and night with her and in the morning having her put to death A month passed during which time Shahriyar had already married thirty women and put each one of them to death He had wedded the daughters of princes and merchants officers and commoners each of them just for one night In the morning each young woman was beheaded A whole year passed and still no one could stop Shahriyar's Shahriyar's madness The task of finding a new bride each night fell to his vizier The vizier hated this distasteful task but he knew he had no choice He also knew that one day one of his daughters would have to be presented to his cruel master He was dreading that day because he had not one but two lovely daughters The elder was Shahrazade and the younger Duniazad Both daughters were as clever as they were beautiful but of the many talents they each possessed the most notable was Shahrazade's gift for telling stories She loved telling them reading them collecting them and translating them for she could speak several

The Arabian Nights — page 6 — Shahriyar Meets Shahrazade Her mind was like a treasure trove and she was full of invention too making each story more elaborate than the next One day Shahrazade suggested Let me marry the shah Are you crazy the vizier exclaimed Who in their right mind would choose to marry him knowing what lies in store I have no intention of dying Shahrazade replied Someone must put an end to this madness and I believe I can do it I will not let you endanger your life concluded the vizier For many weeks he would not let his elder daughter raise the subject again In the meantime the city of Ctesiphon was in continuous mourning Young women were getting scarce and the army was becoming ruthless in its search for suitable suitable brides The vizier felt increasing pressure to lead by example He could hear the courtiers whispering during council meetings about how their daughters were being led to the slaughter while the vizier's were spared Finally the vizier decided to let Shahrazade have her way He and his wife wept all day as their beloved daughter was dressed for the wedding Even Shahriyar felt a tinge

The Arabian Nights — page 7 — talking The Arabian Nights of remorse at marrying the child of his trusted vizier so he was unusually kind to her Hence he did not say no when she asked if her younger sister Duniazad could join them at the end of the evening so that she could tell her a story before going to bed But there is a condition he said I must be free to listen too What kind of story will it be The kind of story that entertains children and adults kings and queens the rich and the poor the kind of story your grandmother told you when you were a boy Shahrazade answered sweetly When Duniazad entered the royal bedchamber she bowed to Shahriyar kissed her sister Shahrazade and asked her in a low sad voice Shahrazade as this is your last night with us on this earth can you please tell me one of your best stories so that I may remember you forever Duniazad settled at her sister's feet while Shahriyar stretched on his couch put his arms behind his head and felt himself relaxing for the first time in a year Maybe this bride will prove different from all the others he thought to himself as Shahrazade started

The Arabian Nights — page 8

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