The Wonderful Pear Tree

A study of the historical background of Chinese literature reveals that "China has preserved her literature as a continuous and living influence up to the present." As a proof, one of the songs of the twenty-fourth century B.C. was adopted as the national anthem when the Chinese republic was established in 1911. In addition, Mei Sheng, who died in 140 B.C., has been called "the father of modern poetry."

  The Wonderful Pear Tree shows the love of magic which permeated Chinese life in antiquity.

1. 

Once upon a time a countryman came into the town on market-day, and brought a load of very special pears with him to sell. He set up his barrow in a good corner, and soon had a great crowd round him ; for everyone knew he always sold extra fine pears, though he did also ask an extra high price. Now, while he was crying up his fruit, a poor, old, ragged, hungry-looking priest stopped just in front of the barrow, and very humbly begged him to give him one of the pears. But the countryman, who was very mean and very nasty-tempered, wouldn't hear of giving him any, and as the priest didn't seem inclined to move on, he began calling him all the bad names he could think of. " Good sir," said the priest, " you have got hundreds of pears on your barrow. I only ask you for one. You would never even know you had lost one. Really, you needn't get angry."

"Give him a pear that is going bad ; that will make him happy," said one of the crowd. "The old man is quite right ; you'd never miss it."

"I've said I won't, and I won't!" cried the countryman ; and all the people close by began shouting, first one thing, and then another, until the constable of the market, hearing the hubbub, hurried up ; and when he had made out what was the matter, pulled some cash out of his purse, bought a pear, and gave it to the priest. For he was afraid that the noise would come to the ears of the mandarin who was just being carried down the street.

The old priest took the pear with a low bow, and held it up in front of the crowd, saying, " You all know that I have no home, no parents, no children, no clothes of my own, no food, because I gave everything up when I became a priest. So it puzzles me how anyone can be so selfish and so stingy as to refuse to give me one single pear. Now I am quite a different sort of man from this countryman. I have got here some perfectly exquisite pears, and I shall feel most deeply honoured if you will accept them from me." " Why on earth didn't you eat them yourself, instead of begging for one?" asked a man in the crowd. "Ah," answered the priest, " I must grow them first." So he ate up the pear, only leaving a single pip. Then he took a pick which was fastened across his back, dug a deep hole in the ground at his feet, and planted the pip, which he covered all over with earth. " Will some one fetch me some hot water to water this ? " he asked. The people, who were crowding round, thought he was only joking, but one of them ran and fetched a kettle of boiling water and gave it to the priest, who very carefully poured it over the place where he had sowed the pip. Then, almost while he was pouring, they saw, first a tiny green sprout, and then another, come pushing their heads above the ground; then one leaf uncurled, and then another, while the shoots kept growing taller and taller ; then there stood before them a young tree with a few branches with a few leaves ; then more leaves ; then flowers ; and last of all clusters of huge, ripe, sweet-smelling pears weighing the branches down to the ground ! Now the priest's face shone with pleasure, and the crowd roared with delight when he picked the pears one by one until they were all gone, handing them round with a bow to each man present. Then the old man took the pick again, hacked at the tree until it fell with a crash, when he shouldered it, leaves and all, and with a final bow, walked away.

All the time this had been going on, the countryman, quite forgetting his barrow and pears, had been in the midst of the crowd, standing on the tips of his toes, and straining his eyes to try to make out what was happening. But when the old priest had gone, and the crowd was getting thin, he turned round to his barrow, and saw with horror that it was quite empty. Every single pear had gone ! In a moment he understood what had happened. The pears the old priest had been so generous in giving away were not his own ; they were the countryman's ! What was more, one of the handles of his barrow was missing, and there was no doubt that he had started from home with two ! He was in a towering rage, and rushed as hard as he could after the priest ; but just as he turned the corner he saw, lying close to the wall, the barrow-handle itself, which without any doubt was the very pear-tree which the priest had cut down. All the people in the market were simply splitting their sides with laughter; but as for the priest, no one saw him any more. 

Summary

A countryman came into the town on market-day, and brought a load of very special pears with him to sell. While he was crying up his fruit, a poor, old, ragged, hungry-looking priest stopped and begged him to give him one of the pears. But the countryman didn’t give him and as the priest didn't seem inclined to move on, he began calling him all the bad names. One of the people in the crowd told the countryman to give him one but the countryman didn’t do it. After the words spread throughout the market, the countryman had made out what was the matter, pulled some cash out of his purse, bought a pear, and gave it to the priest. The old priest took the pear with a low bow. After answering some question, he ate up the pear, only leaving a single pip. Then he took a pick which was fastened across his back, dug a deep hole in the ground at his feet, and planted the pip, which he covered all over with earth. One of the people helped him by giving him hot water to water the pear. The priest carefully poured it over the place where he had sowed the pip. Then, almost while he was pouring, the people saw the seed grew into a tree with flowers and fruits. Now the priest's face shone with pleasure, and the crowd roared with delight when he picked the pears one by one until they were all gone, handing them round with a bow to each man present. Then the old man took the pick again, hacked at the tree until it fell with a crash, when he shouldered it, leaves and all, and with a final bow, walked away.

All the time this had been going on, the countryman, quite forgetting his barrow and pears, had been in the midst of the crowd, standing on the tips of his toes, and straining his eyes to try to make out what was happening. But when the old priest had gone, and the crowd was getting thin, he turned round to his barrow, and saw with horror that it was quite empty. One of the handles of his barrow was missing, and there was no doubt that he had started from home with two ! He was in a towering rage, and rushed as hard as he could after the priest ; but just as he turned the corner he saw, lying close to the wall, the barrow-handle itself, which without any doubt was the very pear-tree which the priest had cut down. All the people in the market were simply splitting their sides with laughter; but as for the priest, no one saw him anymore.

Contributor:Mary Ariane Nicole Patriarca

The Arabian Nights: One Thousand and One Nights Summary

The Arabian Nights is a collection of tales from the Islamic Golden Age, compiled by various authors over many hundreds of years.

Though each collection features different stories, they are all centered around the frame story of the sultan Shahrayar and his wife, Scheherazade. After finding out that his first wife is unfaithful, Shahrayar kills her and swears to marry a different woman each night before killing her the following morning to prevent further betrayal. Scheherazade, his vizier's daughter, concocts a plan to end this pattern. She marries Shahrayar, and then begins to tell him a story that night. However, she stops the story in the middle, so that he will be excited to hear the rest the following night. The next evening, she finishes that story and then begins another, following the same pattern for 1,001 nights, until Shahrayar has a change of heart. The stories she tells comprise the collection.

"Aladdin's Lamp" tells of a peasant boy who is tricked by an evil magician into retrieving a magic genie lamp from a cave. However, Aladdin outsmarts him, keeping the lamp for himself. Through the genie's power, Aladdin grows rich and marries the sultan's daughter. When the magician steals the lamp back, Aladdin and his wife thwart and kill the villain. The magician's brother then attempts to avenge the dead man, but is equally defeated, so that Aladdin lives happily ever after.

In "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," hardworking Ali Baba stumbles upon a thieves' hideout full of treasure, protected by a magic entry. When Ali Baba accidentally reveals the secret to his richer brother Cassim, Cassim gets trapped in the hideout, and killed by the thieves. The villains then try to track down and kill Ali Baba, but their plans are consistently thwarted by the quick-witted slave Morgiana.

In "The Three Apples," a fisherman finds a chest in the ocean containing a woman's body. Both her father and her husband try to take the blame, but the caliph discerns that the husband had killed her, believing her unfaithful. He had brought her three rare apples when she was sick, then got mad when he saw a slave with one of the apples, claiming he had received the fruit from his girlfriend. Believing the slave, he killed the woman. He then learned that his son had actually given the apple to the slave, who then lied to stir up trouble. The ruler's vizier Ja'far ascertains that his own slave is the culprit, and the caliph pardons everyone.

"The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor" are told by a famous sailor to an impoverished porter, to explain the trials and tribulations that the sailor suffered at sea. Over the course of his seven voyages, Sinbad faced: various shipwrecks; strange beasts such as giant eagles, rocs, and giants; malicious figures such as the Old Man of the Sea; and many other obstacles. Even though he dealt with danger on every voyage, Sinbad continued to sail, lured by the thrill and excitement of the sea. Finally, after seven voyages, he decided to settle down with his wealth.

"The Fisherman and the Jinni" tells the story of a fisherman whose nets retrieve a yellow jar from the sea. He opens it to release a dangerous genie, who has been trapped for hundreds of years and had decided to kill the man who rescues him. The fisherman tricks the genie into returning to the jar, and then tells him the story of "The Vizier and the Sage Duban," detailed below. After the story, the genie promises to reward the fisherman, and indeed shows him a magic lake full of strange fish. The fisherman sells the fish to the sultan, who explores the area of the lake to meet a sad prince who had been turned half to stone. He helps the prince, and then rewards everyone involved.

In "The Vizier and the Sage Duban," a wise healer named Duban heals King Yunan's leprosy, but Yunan's vizier convinces the king that Duban is out to kill him. Yunan has Duban executed on that suspicion, and Duban gifts him a magic book before he dies. After the wise man is beheaded, the king flips through the book, and then dies himself from a poison that Duban has left on its pages.

Finally, "The Three Princes and the Princes Nouronnihar" details the journeys of three brother princes who each wants to marry their cousin Nouronnihar. Their father, the Grand Sultan, promises that whichever brother finds the most valuable item will win the woman's hand. They each find amazing items - a magic carpet that transports its owner, a tube that shows whatever the viewer wishes, and an apple that heals anyone. When the brothers learn that Nouronnihar is ill, they pool the items and manage to save her life.

The Arabian Nights: One Thousand and One Nights Character List

Shahrayar

In "The Frame Story," he rules over the kingdom of India and begins the practice of marrying wives and killing them the next morning until Scheherazade begins to tell him stories every night. Brother to Shahzaman.

Shahzaman

In "The Frame Story," he rules over the kingdom of Samarkand and reveals to his brother Shahrayar that his wife is cheating on him.

Scheherazade

Scheherazade is the primary storyteller of The Arabian Nights, according to "The Frame Story." The daughter of Shahrayar's vizier, she marries the king and tells him stories every night to keep him from killing her or any more of his wives. She is renowned for both her talent and beauty.

Dinarzad

In "The Frame Story," she is Scheherazade's younger sister who asks for the stories that then keep Scheherazade alive.

Aladdin

The title character of "Aladdin's Lamp," he is a poor street child who becomes rich after fooling a magician and procuring a genie's lamp. He eventually marries the sultan's daughter.

the sultan

In "Aladdin's Lamp," this sultan grants Aladdin his daughter's hand after the boy conjures up so much wealth via the genie. He later threatens Aladdin when the magician steals the castle and princess.

the beautiful princess

In "Aladdin's Lamp," the title character marries her after impressing the sultan with his wealth. Though kidnapped by the magician, she is eventually rescued.

the magician

In "Aladdin's Lamp," he tricks Aladdin into fetching the magic lamp for him, but Aladdin tricks him in return and takes it for himself. He is killed when he later tries to steal it back, inspiring his brother to then seek revenge.

the magician's brother

In "Aladdin's Lamp," this villain is even more vengeful than his brother. After the magician's death, he disguises himself as a well-known holy woman in order to get into Aladdin's palace.

Ali Baba

The title character of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," he discovers the secret treasure cave of the forty thieves, which makes an enemy of the thief captain. Brother to Cassim, and later owner of Morgiana.

Cassim

In "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," he is Aladdin's brother. He greedily enters the cave after learning of it from Ali Baba, but is caught by the thieves and then killed.

Captain of the Thieves

In "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," he leads the band of criminals, and tries several times to murder Ali Baba after the man finds their hiding place. He is eventually outsmarted by Morgiana.

Morgiana

In "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," she is Cassim's slave who is later transferred to Ali Baba after her master's death. The cleverest character in the story, she is responsible for foiling the Thief Captain's plan.

Baba Mustapha

In "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," he is the cobbler whom Morgiana blindfolds when trying to hide the truth of Cassim's death. The thieves later use him to find Ali Baba's house.

Caliph Harun al-Rashid

The ruler in many of the Arabian Nights stories. In "The Three Apples," he demands Ja'far find the woman's killer, and later pardons the young man. In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," Sinbad brings him gifts from the King of Serendip, and the caliph later reciprocates.

Ja'far

In "The Three Apples," he is Caliph Harun al-Rashid's vizier. He solves the mystery at the threat of execution.

the young husband

In "The Three Apples," he kills his wife, mistakenly believing she was unfaithful. He is later pardoned after asking to be killed for his crime.

the old father

In "The Three Apples," he is the father of the young woman who was murdered. He lies to protect his son-in-law, but the young husband ultimately proves his own guilt.

Ja'far's slave

In "The Three Apples," he receives one of the rare apples and then lies about it, thereby leading to the woman's murder. He is spared at Ja'far's behest.

the impoverished porter

In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," this poor man stumbles upon the sailor Sinbad, and hears one of his stories each night of the week, before receiving money from the wealthy sailor. (In some versions of The Arabian Nights, he is known as Hindbad.)

Sinbad

A wealthy sailor who has gone on seven voyages as a merchant and faced many trials and tribulations until he finally chose to settle down with his riches.

King Mihrage

In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," he is king of the first island on which Sinbad is shipwrecked, and shows him great hospitality.

the cannibal giant

In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," this creature wreaks havoc on Sinbad's third voyage, eating much of the crew before Sinbad comes up with an escape plan.

Old Man of the Sea

In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," this villainous, enchanted creature latches onto Sinbad's back in his fifth journey, forcing the sailor to carry him around to fruitful trees, in the process draining the sailor's energy. Sinbad has to get the old man drunk to free himself.

King of Serendib

In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," this generous ruler welcomes Sinbad to his island on the sixth journey, and then sends him back with gifts for the caliph.

Sinbad's merchant master

In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," he buys Sinbad as slave after a shipwreck on the seventh voyage, and uses him to kill elephants for ivory. When Sinbad finds the elephant graveyard, the master is happy enough to set the sailor free.

chief merchant's daughter

In the alternate version of the seventh voyage of "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," she marries Sinbad and later returns home with him from the land of the bird-people.

the old fisherman

In "The Fisherman and the Jinni," this poor man releases a genie from a yellow pot, and then must outsmart the spirit to save his life. He also tells the story of "The Vizier and the Sage Duban."

Duban

In "The Vizier and the Sage Duban, this wise sage heals King Yunan's leprosy, but is killed when King Yunan's vizier plots against him.

King Yunan

In "The Vizier and the Sage Duban," this ruler is cured of his leprosy by the wise man Duban, but then executes the doctor after being fooled by his vizier.

King Yunan's vizier

In "The Vizier and the Sage Duban," this evil, unsightly man plots against Duban, and causes trouble for both the wise man and Yunan himself.

Hussein

Hussein is the oldest of the three princes in "The Three Princes and the Princess Nouronnihar". He purchases a magic carpet that can transport him wherever he chooses.

Ali

Ali is the middle of the three princes in "The Three Princes and the Princess Nouronnihar." He purchases an ivory tube that can show the user anything he wishes.

Ahmed

Ahmed is the youngest of the princes in "The Three Princes and the Princess Nouronnihar." He purchases an enchanted artificial apple that can heal even the worst sickness with one sniff.

The Great Sultan of India

In "The Three Princes and the Princess Nouronnihar," he devises the competition for his sons (the princes) to take, and ultimately lauds them for working together. Father to Hussein, Ali, and Ahmed; uncle to Nouronnihar.

Nouronnihar

In "The Three Princes and the Princess Nouronnihar," she is niece to the Great Sultan, and cousin to the three princes who compete for her hand.

Shahrayar's vizier

In "The Frame Story," he is Shahrayar's advocate sent to Samarkand to invite Shahzaman to visit India.

the demon

In "The Frame Story," he traps a beautiful woman, who then sleeps around as much as possible to scorn him. His misfortune encourages Shahrayar and Shahzaman on their quest to find someone more miserable than they are.

the demon's woman

In "The Frame Story," this woman is trapped in a glass chest by a demon, but sleeps around as much as possible (including with Shahrayar and Shahzaman) to scorn the demon.

the young man's wife

In "The Three Apples," she was falsely accused of infidelity by Ja'far's slave, and was murdered because of it.

Sinbad's captain

In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," several captains accidentally leave Sinbad behind, usually to come across him later apologetically.

the horsegroom

In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," this man serves King Mihrage and brings Sinbad to the king after the sailor helps him save a drowning mare.

the giant's mate

In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," this creature throws rocks at the fleeing crew after they kill the cannibal giant, leaving only a few of the men alive.

the wealthy king

In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," this ruler offers Sinbad a beautiful wife on his fourth voyage, not revealing that the sailor has to be buried alive with the woman after she dies according to local custom.

Sinbad's island wife

In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," Sinbad marries this woman on his fourth voyage, only to then discover he must be buried alive with her according to local custom.

Cassim's wife

In "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," she lends Ali Baba's wife a rigged scale and thereby learns the secret of their wealth.

Ali Baba's wife

In "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," she desires to weigh the gold Ali Baba steals, so borrows a scale from Cassim's wife, which the latter woman rigs to discover their secret.

Ali Baba's son

In "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," he is fooled by the Captain of the Thieves into inviting the villain to dinner at Ali Baba's house.

Aladdin's mother

The title character's mother in "Aladdin's Lamp," she supports his almost-fatal trip with the magician, and later helps Aladdin carry out his plan to marry the sultan's daughter.

the sultan's greedy vizier

In "Aladdin's Lamp," this man convinces the sultan to postpone the princess's marriage to Aladdin so his own son can woo her. He succeeds, but Aladdin then manages to break up the marriage.

the curious sultan

In "The Fisherman and the Jinni," this ruler is intrigued by the mystery of the colorful fish and investigates to discover and free the sad prince.

the vizier's son

In "Aladdin's Lamp," he marries the beautiful princess thanks to his father's scheming, but then loses his marriage because of Aladdin's magic.

the ring jinn

In "Aladdin's Lamp," he is the spirit conjured by the magician's ring, and less powerful than the lamp jinn.

the lamp jinn

In "Aladdin's Lamp," he is the spirit conjured by the lamp Aladdin steals for the magician, and is more powerful than the ring jinn.

the hairy men

In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," these hairy, two-feet tall savages steal the ship on which Sinbad is serving, leaving the crew stranded on the island with the cannibal giant.

the naked savages

In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," these men drug Sinbad's crew on his fourth journey, all in anticipation of eating them. Sinbad refuses to take their drugs.

the bird-people

In "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor," these people welcome Sinbad to their community in the alternate version of the final voyage, but prove to be demons whom he must escape.

the pot jinni

In "The Fisherman and the Jinni," this spirit is released by the old fisherman after having been trapped inside a yellow jar by King Solomon of the Jinns for hundreds of years. Though he initially wishes to punish the fisherman, he is outsmarted and ultimately grants him a boon.

the sad prince

In "The Fisherman and the Jinni," this prince had been turned half-way to stone, but is released through the help of the curious sultan.

Contributor:
Fritz Justine M. Pastor

The Arabian Nights: One Thousand and One Nights Summary of "Aladdin's Lamp"

          A long time ago, in Persia, a poor boy called Aladdin was playing with his friends in the streets of his city. A stranger came up to him and asked him if he was the son of Mustapha the Tailor. “I am, sir,” replied Aladdin, “but he died a long while ago.” When the stranger heard this, he embraced Aladdin saying: “My boy – I am your long lost uncle.” Aladdin ran home and told his mother all about this newly found relative, and she prepared supper for them all.

The next day, the uncle led Aladdin out far beyond the city gates. They journeyed onwards until late afternoon, but Aladdin did not feel tired because his uncle told him so many interesting stories. Eventually they reached the foot of a mountain.

“We will go no farther,” said the false uncle – for in truth he was not Aladdin’s relative, but an African magician in disguise. “I will show you something wonderful,” he said. The magician lit a fire and threw some powder on it while saying some magical words. The earth trembled a little and a large boulder rolled to one side. Aladdin saw a flight of steps leading down into a dark cave. The opening was just large enough for a boy to pass through, but plainly the magician, who was rather fat, would not have managed to enter the cave himself. “Go down,” commanded the magician, “at the foot of those steps you will find an open door leading into three large halls. Pass through them without touching anything, or you will die instantly. These halls lead into a garden of fine fruit trees. Walk on until you come to a table upon which stands a lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it contains, and bring it to me.”

Aladdin was afraid to disobey the magician, and went down the stairs into the cave. On the ground he found a ring, and despite the magician’s order not to touch anything, he picked it up and slipped it onto his finger. He did not die. Then he passed through the garden where he picked fruit from the trees. Later on, he found the lamp, just as the magician had said, and he went back up the stairs to the mouth of the cave. The magician cried out: “Make haste and give me the lamp.” But Aladdin saw through his trick and understood that as soon as he handed over the lamp, the magician would replace the stone and he would be shut inside the cave, never to leave. And so Aladdin called out: “Let me out first, and only then will I give you the lamp.” The magician flew into a terrible rage, and throwing some more powder on to the fire, he said some more magic words, and the stone rolled back into its place.

For two days Aladdin remained trapped inside the cave. At last he clasped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed the ring that he had picked off the ground. Immediately an enormous and frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying: “What wouldst thou with me? I am the slave of the ring, and will obey thee in all things.” Aladdin fearlessly replied: “Deliver me from this place!” Whereupon the earth opened, and he found himself back at home. “Alas! child,” said his mother when she noticed him. “I have nothing to eat in the house. We will go hungry tonight.” Aladdin soothed her saying he would sell the lamp to get some money for food. As it was very dirty his mother began to rub it, that it might fetch a higher price. Instantly a hideous genie appeared, and asked what she would have. She fainted away, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly: “Fetch me something to eat!” The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve silver plates containing rich meats, two silver cups, and two bottles of wine. Aladdin’s mother, when she came to herself, said: “Where did you get this splendid feast?” “Ask not, but eat,” replied Aladdin.

One day the Sultan who ruled the city ordered that everyone was to stay at home and close his shutters while the princess, his daughter, went to and from the bath. Aladdin was seized by a desire to see her face, which was very difficult, as she always went veiled. He hid himself behind the door of the bath, and peeped through a chink. The princess looked so beautiful that Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight. He went home and told his mother that he loved the princess so deeply that he could not live without her. His mother burst out laughing, but Aladdin at last persuaded her to go to the Sultan and request his daughter’s hand in marriage for her son. She fetched a napkin and laid in it the magic fruits from the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like the most beautiful jewels. She took these with her to please the Sultan. After waiting several days at the palace, she was admitted to see the him. She threw herself down at the foot of the throne and waited for several minutes until the Sultan said to her: “Old woman, tell me what you want.” She hesitated, then told him of her son’s love for the princess, only at the last moment remembering to open the napkin that contained the magical jewels. When the Sultan saw this wonderful present he was thunderstruck, and turning to his chief adviser, the grand Vizier, he said: “Ought I not to give the princess to one who values her at such a price?” The Vizier, who was hoping that his own son would marry the princess, begged the Sultan to delay the wedding for three months, during which time he hoped to make him a richer present. The Sultan agreed.

Aladdin waited patiently for his wedding day in three months time, but after two months his mother, going into the city to buy oil, found everyone rejoicing, and asked what was going on. “Do you not know,” was the answer, “that the son of the grand Vizier is to marry the Sultan’s daughter tonight?” Aladdin, who was stunned when he heard the news. but presently he took down the lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared, saying, “What is thy will?” Aladdin replied: “The Sultan has broken his promise to me, and the Vizier’s son is to marry the princess. My command is that that you bring the princess here so that the scoundral can’t have her.” “Your wish is my command” said the genie, and in an instant the princess was sitting in Aladdin’s room still wearing her wedding dress. He told her not to be afraid, but she was utterly confused and quite terrified. The next morning, the genie took her back to the palace.

The princess told her mother how she had been carried by magic to some strange house. Her mother did not believe her in the least, and the Sultan ordered that the wedding should take place that evening instead.

The following night exactly the same thing happened. The Sultan was furious and even considered having his daughter’s head cut off. He summoned the Vizier’s son. “Plainly my daughter is hiding from you,” he said. “Do you still wish to marry her?”

“Well” said the young man who was very proud and arrogant: “If the princess does not obey her father, the great Sultan, what hope is that she will make me a good wife? I give up my claim over her. Better that she marry the poorest beggar if that’s what she wants.”

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the Sultan of his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and the Sultan, on seeing her poverty felt less inclined than ever to keep his word. The Vizier advised him to set so high a value on the princess that no man living could come up to it. The Sultan then turned to Aladdin’s mother, saying: “Good woman, a Sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but your son must first send me forty basins of gold full of jewels. Tell him that I await his answer.”

When he heard this, Aladdin summoned up his genie and soon eighty slaves, splendidly dressed, were waiting in the alleyway outside his house. The slaves were carrying forty golden basins, brimming with jewels.

Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through the streets, the slaves strewing gold as they went. When the Sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embraced him, and led him into a hall where a feast was spread, intending to marry him to the princess that very day. But Aladdin refused, saying: “I must build a palace fit for her,” and took his leave. Once home, he said to the genie: “Build me a palace of the finest marble, with four and twenty windows set with jasper, agate, and other precious stones.

At night the princess said goodbye to her father, and set out for Aladdin’s palace, with his mother at her side, and followed by the hundred slaves. She was charmed at the sight of Aladdin, who ran to receive her. “Princess,” he said, “blame your beauty for my boldness if I have displeased you.” After the wedding had taken place, Aladdin led her into the hall, where a feast was spread, and she suppered with him, after which they danced till midnight.

But far away in Africa the magician remembered Aladdin, and by his magic arts discovered that instead of perishing miserably in the cave, he had escaped, and had married a princess. He travelled night and day until he reached the city of Persia where Aladdin lived. Half mad with rage, he was determined to get hold of the lamp, and again plunge Aladdin into the deepest poverty.

Unluckily, Aladdin had gone hunting for eight days, which gave the magician plenty of time. He bought a dozen copper lamps, put them into a basket, and went to the palace, crying: “New lamps for old!” Followed by a jeering crowd, laughing to see an old fool offering to exchange fine new lamps for old ones?One of the palace slaves said to the princess: “There is an old lamp on the cornice there which he can have.” Now this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin had left there, as he could not take it out hunting with him. The princess, not knowing its value, went and said to the magician: “Give me a new lamp for this.” He snatched it amid the jeers of the crowd. Little he cared. He went out of the city gates to a lonely place where he pulled out the lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared, and at the magician’s command carried him, together with the palace and the princess in it, to far off Africa.

Next morning the Sultan looked out of the window toward Aladdin’s palace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. The Vizier put the strange disappearance of the palace and his daughter down to black magic, and this time the Sultan believed him. He and sent thirty men on horseback to fetch Aladdin in chains. “False wretch!” said the Sultan. “Where is my palace and my daughter?” Aladdin had no answer, but begged to be given forty days to discover the cause of the disaster. This the Sultan granted. For three days Aladdin wandered about like a madman, asking everyone what had become of his palace, but they only laughed and pitied him. He came to the banks of a river, and knelt down to say his prayers before throwing himself in. In so doing he rubbed the magic ring he still wore. The genie appeared, and asked his will. “Save my life, Genie,” said Aladdin, “bring my palace back.” “That is not in my power,” said the genie. “I am only the slave of the ring; you must ask him of the lamp.” “Even so,” said Aladdin, “but thou canst take me to the palace, and set me down under my dear wife’s window.” He at once found himself in Africa, under the window of the princess.

That morning the princess rose early and opened the window, and at the noise she made, Aladdin looked up. She was astonished and delighted to see her dear husband’s face. After he had kissed her, Aladdin said: “I beg of you, Princess, in God’s name, tell me what has become of my old lamp. “Alas!” she said, “I am the innocent cause of our sorrows,” and she told him of the exchange of the lamp.

Aladdin comforted her, and gave her a small bottle containing a certain powder. “Put on your most beautiful dress,” he said to her “and receive the magician with smiles, leading him to believe that you have forgotten me. Invite him to supper with you, and say you wish to taste the wine of his country. He will go for some and while he is gone I will tell you what to do.”

That evening she received the magician, saying, to his great amazement: “I have made up my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all my tears will not bring him back to me, so I am resolved to mourn no more, and have therefore invited you to supper with me, but let us try some wine of Africa.” The magician flew to his cellar, and the princess put the powder that Aladdin had given her into his cup. When he returned the magician made her a speech in praise of her beauty, but the princess cut him short, saying: “Let us drink first, and you shall say what you will afterward.” She set her cup to her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained his to the dregs and fell back lifeless. Aladdin came into the room, went to the dead magician, took the lamp out of his clothes, and bade the genie carry the palace and all in it back to Persia. This was done in an instant.

The Sultan, who was sitting in his chamber, mourning for his lost daughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his eyes, for there stood the palace as before! He hastened over to it, and Aladdin received him with the princess at his side. He told him what had happened, and showed him the dead body of the magician, that he might believe. A ten days’ feast was proclaimed, and it seemed as if Aladdin might now live the rest of his life in peace; but it was not to be.

The African magician had a younger brother, who was, if possible, more wicked and more cunning than himself. He travelled to Persia to avenge his brother’s death, and disguised himself in skirts and veils so that he looked exactly like a famous holy woman called Fatima. Then he went toward the palace of Aladdin, and all the people, thinking he was the holy woman, gathered round him, kissing his hands and begging his blessing. The princess, who had long desired to see Fatima, sent for her. She showed Fatima the palace, and asked what she thought of it. “It is truly beautiful,” said the false Fatima. “In my mind it wants but one thing.” “And what is that?” said the princess. “If only a roc’s egg,” replied he, “were hung up from the middle of this dome, it would be the wonder of the world.”

After this the princess could think of nothing but the roc’s egg, and when Aladdin returned from hunting he found her in a very ill mood. She told him that all her pleasure in the hall was spoiled for the want of a roc’s egg hanging from the dome. “If that is all,” replied Aladdin, “you shall soon be happy.” He left her and rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared commanded him to bring a roc’s egg. The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriek that the hall shook. “Wretch!” he cried, “is it not enough that I have done everything for you, but you must command me to bring my master and hang him up in the midst of this dome? You and your wife and your palace deserve to be burnt to ashes, but this request does not come from you, but from the brother of the African magician, whom you destroyed. He is now in your palace disguised as the holy woman. He, it was who put that wish into your wife’s head. Take care of yourself, for he means to kill you.” So saying, the genie disappeared.

Aladdin went back to the princess, saying his head ached, and requesting that the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands on it. But when the magician came near, Aladdin, seizing his dagger, pierced him to the heart. “What have you done?” cried the princess. “You have killed the holy woman!” “Not so,” replied Aladdin, “but a wicked magician,” and told her of how she had been deceived.

After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He succeeded the Sultan when he died, and reigned for many years, leaving behind him a long line of kings.

Summary:

Aladdin is a truant child, living with his mother in poverty in a Chinese town. His father is dead.

One day, an African magician approaches Aladdin while the boy plays in the streets. Claiming to be the boy's uncle, he recruits Aladdin to work with him, insisting he will be able to turn the boy into a wealthy merchant afterwards. Aladdin's mother also believes the lie, and gives her permission.

Aladdin agrees, and the magician leads him to a booby-trapped cave. There, he instructs Aladdin to fetch an oil lamp from within, not explaining that the cave's spells require the magician to receive the lamp from another. He grants the boys one of his magic rings as protection.

However, after finding the lamp, Aladdin refuses to send it to him before he leaves the cave. In a fit of rage, the magician traps Aladdin inside, still holding the lamp. After two days miserable and alone, Aladdin accidentally rubs the ring the magician gave him, and a jinn (or genie) appears. At the boy's mercy, the ring jinn asks what Aladdin wants, and the boy asks to be brought home. The spirit complies.

Back home, Aladdin's mother attempts to clean the lamp so they can sell it. When she rubs it, an even more powerful jinn appears, promising to do their bidding. They request something to eat, and the lamp jinn brings them an amazing feast. Though Aladdin's mother fears they are cavorting with devils, Aladdin insists they take advantage of their good fortune.

They live in prosperity for years in this way, until one day Aladdin catches sight of the sultan's daughter, and decides he must marry her. He sends his mother to the sultan's palace with some jewels conjured by the lamp jinn, to impress the sultan into approving the marriage with the beautiful princess. Amazed by the display of wealth, the sultan agrees, though the sultan's greedy vizier convinces him to wait three months, hoping his own son can woo the princess with an even greater gift during that time.

Two months later, Aladdin learns the the vizier's son has indeed won the princess for his bride. Outraged, he demands the jinn transport the bride and groom to him on the night of their wedding. The couple is transported in their bed, and the jinn sends the vizier's son outside while Aladdin spends the night with the princess. The next morning, the bed is transported back and the son returned. The process is repeated for a few nights, terrifying the married couple. Believing themselves cursed, they tell the sultan what has happened, and decide to separate.

One month later (at the end of the original three month period), Aladdin's mother reminds the sultan of his promise, and he marries his daughter to Aladdin, who has the lamp jinn create a magnificent palace for their home.

From his home in Africa, the magician hears of this story, and realizes that Aladdin must have survived and kept the lamp. So one day, when Aladdin is away, he travels to the palace disguised as a merchant who is trading new, polished lamps for old ones. The sultan's daughter falls for the ruse, and gives him the magic lamp. The magician immediately uses the lamp jinn to transport the palace and princess to Africa.

Shocked, the sultan threatens to kill Aladdin if he does not bring the princess back within forty days. Aladdin still has the magic ring, so he uses its jinn to transport him to Africa. There, he and the princess prepare a plan. She dresses alluringly one night and swears she has forgotten Aladdin. Excited, the magician pours some fine wine, which she then drugs to kill him. The couple then steals the lamp and returns home to China with the palace.

All is not well yet, though; the magician has a brother, who is even more wicked. Bent on revenge, the magician's brother disguises himself as a holy woman and visits the palace. There, he convinces the princess that the place would benefit from having a hanging roc's egg. She begs Aladdin to request this from the jinn, which he does.

However, this request angers the jinn, since the roc is his master. He threatens to destroy the palace, but quickly surmises that Aladdin has been tricked by the magician's brother. He warns them of the danger, and Aladdin kills the impostor once and for all. They live happily ever after, and Aladdin eventually becomes sultan himself.

Contributor:
Lorvick P. Pendioday

The Arabian Nights: One Thousand and One Nights Summary of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves"

Summary

The are two Persian brothers, Ali Baba and Cassim. Cassim is married to a rich wife, while Ali Baba works hard to support himself and his own family.

One day, Ali Baba is cutting firewood in the forest, cursing his poor fortune, he caught sight of an approaching band of thieves, saddled with loot. Frightened, he hides in a tree, and watches as the Captain of the Thieves opens a magical portal in a boulder by reciting the words "Open Sesame!" (The actual phrase differs depending on translation.) They entered, and the portal closes behind them. Ali Baba assumes they are hiding their goods in the cavern.

After they leave the cavern, no longer saddled with their loot, the Captain uses the same words to close the portal before the band departs. Once they disappear, Ali Baba raids the cave himself, and discovers it packed wall to wall with valuables. He collects as much gold as his mules can carry, and brings it back home to his wife. It is enough wealth to last a lifetime.

Ali Baba's wife borrows a scale from Cassim's wife to measure the gold before Ali Baba hides it, and the latter woman uses a trick (she puts wax on the scale to capture the gold) to determine what they are measuring.

Cassim and his wife insist Ali Baba tell them of his secret, and he complies. Cassim sets out for the cavern himself, and is equally amazed. Unfortunately, he forgets the magic words, so is stuck inside the cavern. When the 40 thieves arrive again, they kill him, cut his body into quarters, and hang him up in the cave to scare anyone else who may trespass.

Concerned when Cassim does not return, Ali Baba investigates to discover the corpse, which he takes home. He works with Cassim's wife - promising to marry her himself after a period of mourning - and Cassim's maid, Morgiana, to bury Cassim without drawing any attention to the situation. To this end, Morgiana blindfolds a cobbler named Baba Mustapha, and brings him to a non-descript room so he can sew Cassim's body back together without recognizing the house or family.

Meanwhile, the thieves find the body missing, and realize someone else knows about the cave. The Captain dispatches one of them to infiltrate the town and listen for news of some strange deaths. That thief eventually meets Baba Mustapha, and learns that he had recently stitched up a body. The thief blindfolds the cobbler, who is able to reproduce his path to the house, which the thief then marks with white chalk so he can find it again with the rest of the band.

Morgiana, however, spots the mark and senses that something is wrong. To foil the plan, she marks a handful of neighboring houses with chalk as well.

When the thieves return to find they have been duped, the Captain kills the man who had found the house, and sends another thief to find it. A blind-folded Baba Mustapha again leads to Ali Baba's house, and the thief marks it this time with red chalk. However, Morgiana catches on and does the same thing to other houses.

The robbers are confused again that night, and the Captain murders the second man before deciding to handle the task himself. He repeats the same process with Baba Mustapha, but this time memorizes the location himself rather than using chalk.

Then he returns to the house disguised as an oil merchant in need of lodging for the night. The other thieves are hidden in oil jars carried by mules; only one jar actually has oil in it. They plan to sneak out once Ali Baba is asleep, and kill him.

Once again, Morgiana is not fooled; when she goes out to borrow some oil, she discovers the men in the jars, and boils oil from the final jar, killing them with it. The Captain investigates later that night, and escapes before he can be killed.

Morgiana tells Ali Baba what happened, and they bury the corpses. In gratitude, Ali Baba grants Morgiana her freedom. (In some versions, this does not happen until later.)

The danger is not over yet, though; the captain wants revenge. He disguises himself as a merchant and befriends Ali Baba's son so that he is invited for dinner. Morgiana senses something fishy, and hatches a plan. She and another servant perform for the men; during her dance, she stabs him.

When Ali Baba learns the truth, he is so grateful that he gives Morgiana his son's hand in marriage. Ali Baba is now the only living soul who knows the cave's secret words, so he passes it along only to his sons and they live happily in prosperity.

Contributor:Joshua Aaron Revira  

The Arabian Nights: One Thousand and One Nights Summary of "The Three Princes and the Princess Nouronnihar"

Summary

The Great Sultan of India has three sons: Hussein,the oldest; Ali, the middle; and Ahmed, the youngest. The Great Sultan also cares for his niece, the princess Nouronnihar, whose father had died.

The Great Sultan had planned to marry Nouronnihar to a foreign noble, but his sons all want to marry her. Knowing the youngest two would not cede her to Hussein simply because of his seniority, the ruler suggests she choose her own husband. They refuse to comply. Thus, the Great Sultan stages a competition: each prince will travel to a faraway land to collect the greatest rarity he can find. Whoever brings back the most valuable item will be granted the princess's hand. Eager, the princes set off immediately.

Prince Hussein travels to the kingdom of Bisnagar, where he finds a merchant selling a plain-looking carpet for a huge sum of money. He inquires after it, to learn that the carpet will transport its owner wherever he pleases. Though he knows this gift would likely win the contest, he is skeptical, so the carpet merchant promises to test it with him. Hussein agrees, and he and merchant sit on the carpet and are transported to Hussein's lodging in town. After buying the carpet, Hussein remains in the kingdom for a long time, knowing the carpet will transport him back home whenever he is ready.

Meanwhile, Prince Ali travels to the kingdom of Persia, where he finds a merchant selling a strange ivory tube for a huge sum. He inquires after it, to learn that one can see anything in the world by peering into the tube. To test it, Ali wishes to see his father and then Nouronnihar, and then looks into it. It works. He then buys the wonderful tube, and heads back home to meet his brothers.

Finally, Prince Ahmed travels far away to the kingdom of Samarcand, where he finds a merchant selling a small, unremarkable artificial apple. The merchant insists that the apple can cure absolutely any disease with one smell, and that it had saved practically everyone in the city at one time. When Ahmed asks for proof, many passersby attest to its power; however, Ahmed does not believe it until he sees the apple cure a sick wife with his own eyes. He then buys the rare apple and returns to meet his brothers, sure of his coming success.

When the brothers reunite at a designated meeting place, they compare gifts. However, when Ali peers through his ivory tube, he sees a most unwelcome sight: the princess is on her deathbed in their home kingdom far away, certain to die within a few days. Troubled, Hussein offers to transport them home on his carpet. When they arrive, Ahmed uses his apple to cure her immediately.

At first, everyone believes Ahmed should marry the princess, since his gift cured her. However, the Great Sultan rationalizes that each item was instrumental to her survival, so he devises an archery contest to decide the question. Ali wins the contest, and the wedding is held soon afterwards.

 Contributor:

Jean Recaido

 

The Arabian Nights: One Thousand and One Nights Summary of "The Three Apples"

Summary

When a fisherman finds a large, heavy chest, he sells it to the Caliph Harun al-Rashid. To everyone's horror, the caliph orders the chest opened, revealing a woman's corpse, sliced into quarters. The caliph demands that his vizier, Ja'far, locate the murderer and solve the crime within three days. If Ja'far fails, he will be executed.

Predictably, Ja'far fails; there are no clues or hints to guide his search. However, right before his execution, two people - the young husband and the old father - arrive claiming responsibility for the murder. Each man insists he is the guilty party, but only the young man can correctly describe the chest in which the woman was found. The young man then reveals he was the woman's husband, and the older man her father, who was trying to save his son-in-law by feigning guilt.

Through a series of stories, the young man explains the circumstances of the murder. After falling terribly ill one day, the young man's wife requested an extremely rare apple that he could not locate at any market. Determined to help her, he traveled two weeks to reach Basra, where he found the correct apples in the caliph's orchard. He gathered three of them and returned home.

However, his wife had in the meantime grown too ill to eat. One day soon afterwards, he spotted a slave (Ja'far's slave, though the young man did not know this) carrying one of the fruits, and confronted him. The slave revealed that his girlfriend had gifted him the apple after her husband had found them. Outraged at his wife's apparent infidelity, he investigated to discover one apple indeed missing, and then killed her for her crime. He rid himself of the evidence by cutting her body into pieces, locking them in a chest, and abandoning it in the river.

Here comes a twist, though - he later learned that it was his son who stole the apple and then gave it to the vizier's slave, telling of his father's quest in the process. Clearly, the slave had lied simply to cause mischief.

After describing his unfortunate story, the young man requests that the caliph execute him for his crime, but the caliph is sympathetic. Instead, he sends Ja'far to find the mischievous slave, again at the risk of his own execution.

Once again, the vizier fails. Before leaving for his execution, he hugs his youngest daughter - and finds one of the apples in her pocket. She admits that she received it from one of their slaves, and Ja'far realizes one of his own slaves is the culprit. He thereby avoids death, and begs the caliph spare his slave as well. In exchange, he promises to tell the caliph a story called "Tale of Núr al-Dín Alí and His Son Badr al-Dín Hasan."

Contributor:Trisha Anne Paniergo

The Arabian Nights: One Thousand and One Nights Summary of "The Fisherman and the Jinni"

Summary

An old, poor fisherman barely catches enough to support his family, but has a rule he refuses to break: he only casts his nets out four times per day.

One day, the old fisherman catches nothing from his first cast. His second seems to catch something heavy, but he is disappointed to discover it is only a donkey carcass. His third cast catches a basket full of trash. His fourth yields a large, heavy yellow pot that is sealed shut.

The old fisherman is delighted, sure that he will be able to sell it. However, when he breaks the seal, smoke emerges and forms into a jinni (a genie). The jinni initially believes that he has been released by King Solomon, the jinni king who had imprisoned him in the pot. He fears Solomon means to kill him, but then learns from the old fisherman that Solomon has been dead for centuries. As a gift, the pot jinnioffers to let the fisherman choose how he wants to die.

The fisherman is naturally confused, so the jinni explains. For the first century that he was trapped underwater in the pot, the jinni promised himself that he would make whomever rescued him rich. During his second century imprisoned, he decided he would grant his rescuer all the world's treasures. For the next century, he planned to grant his rescuer three wishes per day. Finally, after four hundred years of imprisonment, the resentful jinni swore he would kill whoever rescued him, offering only to let that person choose the way he wanted to die.

Desperate, the fisherman develops a plan. Aloud, he doubts that the jinni could have fit in the pot, considering his immense size. To prove it, the jinni dissolved back into smoke and returned to the pot. The fisherman immediately shut and sealed the lid, trapping the jinni inside once more.

The jinni swears that he will repay the fisherman if the latter frees him, but the fisherman expresses his doubts. He then tells the jinni a story to explain why he does not believe the spirit - that story is "The Vizier and the Sage Duban," summarized elsewhere in this ClassicNote.

After the story, the old fisherman agrees to free the jinni if the spirit promises to help him. The jinni complies, and kicks the pot into the ocean once freed.

However, he keeps his promise, leading the fisherman to a distant pond in the mountains. From the pond, the fisherman catches four colorful fish, but promises he will only toss his net into this pond once a day. The fisherman sells his mystical fish to the kingdom's sultan, who pays healthily for them.

However, these fish are special; every time one is fried, a person walks through the wall to question the fish, and the fish answer. That person then flips the pan, and the fish chars to ash.

After the first instance, the curious sultan's vizier asks the fisherman for more, but he must wait until the next day in order to keep his promise to the jinni. Eventually, the curious sultan sees the miracle, and asks the fisherman to bring them to the pond.

Soon afterwards, the curious sultan sets out to the pond alone, against his vizier's wishes. Near the pond, he finds a palace, and enters to discover a young man who is half-stone. The man is crying, and tells the curious sultan another branch story called "The Ensorcelled Prince."

After the story, the curious sultan assists the sad prince in securing revenge, and they become close friends. In turn, the fisherman is rewarded when his son is appointed as kingdom's treasurer, and his daughters are married to both the curious sultan and the prince.

Contributor:Christine Mae Santos

The Arabian Nights: One Thousand and One Nights Summary of "The Vizier and the Sage Duban"

Summary

This story is told by the fisherman to the genie in the midst of the story "The Fisherman and the Jinni."

Duban is a sage (a wise man) who is truly remarkable in many disciplines. He can read Greek, Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Byzantine, and Syriac; he is skilled in botany, astronomy, and philosophy; and, most notably, he is a proficient healer.

His land's king, King Yunan, has leprosy. When Duban promises Yunan he can cure the condition without using even a tonic or ointment, the king insists that he begin right away. Duban creates a ball and mallet, and fills the mallet's handle with his special medicine. He then orders the king to play with the items; when Yunan does so, he perspires, and absorbs the medicine from the mallet handle into his bloodstream. After bathing and sleeping, Yunan is miraculously cured. Duban returns to the palace that morning to learn of his success, and then recites some celebratory couplets for the king.

Unfortunately, one of King Yunan's many viziers is an ugly, greedy and jealous man. When King Yunan's vizier notices the attention paid Duban, he hatches an evil plan to convince the king that Duban wants to poison him with an insidious medicine. It takes some persuasion, but the king eventually believes his vizier. He reasons that if Duban was powerful enough to heal him, he could certainly kill him in the same way.

King Yunan wants to punish Duban for this treachery, even though the physician has done nothing treacherous yet. When he and his vizier summon Duban to accuse him of malice, Duban protests, saying, "Spare me and Allah will spare thee; slay me not or Allah shall slay thee." The king is not to be persuaded, and order Duban beheaded.

Before the execution, Duban seemingly accepts his fate, and offers the king one of his prized books full of wisdom so that Yunan might heal himself should he grow ill again. The king obviously accepts, and opens the book once Duban is beheaded. (In some versions of the story, Duban promises his decapitated head will speak instructions for the book if some of his blood is placed upon it. Indeed, the head then speaks to the king through the final beat of the story.)

A few pages in, Yunan is confused to find there is no printing or words in the book. He continues to comb through it, separating the pages by wetting his fingers in his mouth, and thereby unknowingly absorbing the poison Duban had placed there. He quickly begins to die, realizing in his final moments that this is his punishment for killing the man who cured him, and that Duban was right when he said "Allah shall slay thee." (In versions where the head speaks, it addresses Yuban explicitly with this point.)

Contributor:Ralph Lawrence Rari-an