alekites,"
magnificently laid in state, and magically preserved and
protected. Talib unwisely and covetously attempts to rob the
corpse of jewels; and is instantly beheaded by its enchanted
guards. The Emeer Moosa and the sage 'Abd-Es-Samad, however,
leave the place in safety, return to Upper Egypt and Syria by
way of the Country of the Blacks, succeed in securing twelve
of the wonderful bottles containing Jinn,--and the tale
concludes with the Emeer Moosa's resignation of his throne
that he may die in Jerusalem, so profoundly has he been
affected by the adventure.]

FROM 'THE HISTORY OF KING OMAR BEN ENNUMAN, AND
HIS SONS SHERKAN AND ZOULMEKAN'

Nights 15, 16, 17, and 18: Translation of Professor John Payne

THE MEETING OF PRINCE SHERKAN AND PRINCESS ABRIZEH

There reigned once in the City of Peace [Bagdad], before the Khalifate
of Abdulmelik ben Merwan, a king called Omar ben Ennuman, who was of the
mighty giants, and had subdued the kings of Persia and the emperors of
the East, for none could warm himself at his fire nor cope with him in
battle; and when he was angry there came sparks out of his nostrils. He
had gotten him dominion over all countries, and God had subjected unto
him all creatures; his commands were obeyed in all the great cities, and
his armies penetrated the most distant lands: the East and West came
under his rule, with the regions between them, Hind and Sind and China
and Hejaz and Yemen and the islands of India and China, Syria and
Mesopotamia and the lands of the blacks and the islands of the ocean,
and all the famous rivers of the earth, Jaxartes and Bactrus and Nile
and Euphrates. He sent his ambassadors to the farthest parts of the
earth to fetch him true report, and they returned with tidings of
justice and peace, bringing him assurance of loyalty and obedience, and
invocations of blessings on his head; for he was a right noble king, and
there came to him gifts and tribute from all parts of the world. He had
a son called Sherkan, who was one of the prodigies of the age and the
likest of all men to his father, who loved him with an exceeding love
and had appointed him to be king after him. The prince grew up till he
reached man's estate, and was twenty years old, and God subjected all
men to him, for he was gifted with great might and prowess in battle,
humbling the champions and destroying all who made head against him. So,
before long,