ry peril of
travel; and I applied myself to all manner joys and solaces and
delights, eating the daintiest viands and drinking the deliciousest
wines; and my wealth allowed this state of things to endure. This, then,
is the story of my first voyage, and to-morrow, Inshallah! I will tell
you the tale of the second of my seven voyages. Saith he who telleth the
tale: Then Sindbad the Seaman made Sindbad the Landsman sup with him and
bade give him an hundred gold pieces, saying, "Thou hast cheered us with
thy company this day." The Porter thanked him, and taking the gift, went
his way, pondering that which he had heard and marveling mightily at
what things betide mankind.

CONCLUSION OF THE 'THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT'

Translation of Captain Sir Richard F. Burton

Now during this time Shahrazad had borne the King three boy children;
so, when she had made an end of the story of Ma'aruf, she rose to her
feet and kissing ground before him, said, "O King of the time and unique
one of the age and the tide, I am thine handmaid, and these thousand
nights and a night have I entertained thee with stories of folk gone
before and admonitory instances of the men of yore. May I then make bold
to crave a boon of thy highness?" He replied, "Ask, O Shahrazad, and it
shall be granted to thee." Whereupon she cried out to the nurses and the
eunuchs, saying, "Bring me my children." So they brought them to her in
haste, and they were three boy children, one walking, one crawling, and
one sucking. She took them, and setting them before the King, again
kissed ground and said, "O King of the Age, these are thy children and I
crave that thou release me from the doom of death, as a dole to these
infants; for, an thou kill me, they will become motherless and will find
none among women to rear them as they should be reared." When the King
heard this, he wept and straining the boys to his bosom, said, "By
Allah, O Shahrazad, I pardoned thee before the coming of these children,
for that I found thee chaste, pure, ingenuous, and pious! Allah bless
thee and thy father and thy mother and thy root and thy branch! I take
the Almighty to witness against me that I exempt thee from aught that
can harm thee."

So she kissed his hands and feet and rejoiced with exceeding joy,
saying, "The Lord make thy life long and increase thee in dignity and
majesty!" presently adding, "Thou marveledst at which befell thee on the
part of women; yet there betided the Ki