Tales of the Peries

enraged exclaimed, Cursed dog what are you doing Immediately the luckless Melech Mahommed made a bound and assumed the shape of a dog. Then the servants ran and by did of hard blows drove him out of the palace Melech Mahommed said to himself

Black be the hour and black the day

That led my wandering wide astray

         After running up and down and lingering here and there for some time the poor dog quite ashamed of his condition turned towards the city Danish Bait had mounted his horse and was proceeding to court when the dog ran and crawled beneath the horses belly and cowering fawned among his feet Danish Bait immediately comprehended the matter. “Ah,” thought he, “it is that unhappy Nephew of mine that has got into this disgraceful situation.” He immediately ordered him to be carried to the dog kennel “As long as he lives” thought he “he shall wear a dogs collar round his neck.” Melech Mahommed saw that he had nothing for him but to trust to providence and said

said to himself.

The rose of fortune blossoms fair

The thorn is still my luckless share 

         Six months he remained in the shape of a dog. One day Anushah said It is a long time now since I have heard any thing of my friend Gheti Afroz What can have come of Melech Mahommed Can he be playing at chess with her all this while I must go and see how matters go on." He immediately mounted a horse and with a few attendants arrived at the door of her palace. The door was opened and the Shah went in and saw Gheti Afroz adorned in splendid garments of gold cloth. She immediately advanced and taking him by the hand conducted him up to the throne and ordered the wine to be introduced. Ruh Afza instantly brought in the ruby wine and the pafsed away in quaffing the goblet and relishing the choicest fruits. When the circle of the earth illuminating Sun descended into the gulf of Babel and the earth had

had arrayed herself in sable garments or as the Poet says when

The Zingi legions ing sad and slow

O’er earths green visture bid their tresses flow

While as their blackening ranks debate afar

The sky glows brilliant as one sparkling star. 

         The Shah retired to his couch of rest but Gheti Afroz sent for Ruh Afza and said Contrive by art Magic to turn this Shah of yours into the form of an animal that he may know how poor Melech Mahommed fares so that some comfort may teach that unhappy lover

When love my friend assails with glances sly

The devotee will find it hard to fly

For in a single Moment disappears

The sage devotion of an hundred years

Whour the lovers feverish pulse would try

Must know the symptoms well by sympathy

Great avecennas skies had all been vain

Caliph himself had felt the lovers pain 

         Ruh Afza said With all my heart I myself wished to propose the very thing to your Majesty.

         In short the first part of the night had passed the Shah was intoxicated with ruby wine.

wine and the kisses of his Mistress and as the song says--

Law at her feet the lover fell

But then other what tongue can tell

The sweet caresses sighs and kisses 

         That serve to usher sweeter blesses The Shah eager to crop the new blown rose of desire wished to sleep in the same couch with Ruh Afrza She proved capricious and getting into a passion exclaimed Ha you cat what would you scratch me Instantly the Magnanimous king of the nations felt himself whirled giddily round in a circle and taking a spring with his head down most and his heels utmost assumed the form of a cat Astonished and vexed at the incident that had befallen him he knew not what to do with himself and till morning he strolled through the garden caterwauling his fate most piteously When the sun that world subduing Secander unveiled his glittering countenance the Shah ashamed of his situation crept out of the precincts of the palace and concealed himself in a corner at Morn. Danish Bait arose and

and said to himself I must try to get some news of the Shah and his affairs go on among the Peris. He mounted his horse and when he came near the Palace he saw come running to meet him. Ah thought he it is the Shah sure enough and he cried Very well done great prince. Immediately the cat came up to him and he lifted it an placed it in his bosom. Then having sent for the box of Medicine she put a little into the cats mouth when the cat whirled round and round and then assumed its own shape. The Shah immediately dressed himself and rode off for the palace. He was more mortified with the accident than ever a person was in the world and said to Danish Bait dquo;T]here is neither while not stratagem by which I can be avenged of her for a Mortal man like me can never contend with a Peri. Thus far however I can Melech Majommed is her sole delight I will put him to death and sear her bosom with a lasting wound. The Vizier answered Be it according to your Majesty’s pleasure [W]here is he Said the Shah Send for him instantly. Fortunately however Gheti Afroz after the Shah was changed into a cat had sent a Perizadi

Perizadi to watch his motions ordering her to hold herself invisible and inform her of whatever should happen When the Peri heard him express his intention of putting Melech Mahommed to death she instantly set out to inform her mistress who was presently acquainted with all their proceedings As soon as Gheti Afroz heard the news she began to weep and wail bitterly and instantly springing up proceeded to the Court of the Shah When the Shah enquired for Melech Mahommed Danish Bait informed him that he was in the shape of a dog and chained up in his dog kennel. The Shah directly sent some executioners in quest of him who with great rage and cruelly loosed the dogs and brought them out lashing them severally all the way. This is but cold kindness thought Melech Mahommed doubtless this day will be the death of me. Fetching a deep sigh he repeated the following verses:

Sweet Zephyr to my love impart

The anguish of my banished heart

She feasts from care and sorrow free

And never never thinks of me

If where my charmers graces dwell

She would but grant her slave a cell

Blest

Blest in her view with conscious pride

I yet would were the afs hide

Sweet Zephyr to my fair impart

The anguish of my fainting heart 

         Gheti Afroz comprehended his meaning and instantly exclaimed in a loud voice, My faithful Melech Mahommed why as you not resume your own own form When the dog heard the voice of the princess he wiled rapidly round and resumed his own form amid the doges like a flash of lightening When Anu Shah was informed of this event he bit his nails in astonishment and vexation and finding himself without remedy he sat stock still with shame and mortification. Gheti Afroz in the kindest and tenderest manner said to Melech Mahommed How stupidly have I managed the business that you have heard nothing of what has happened for indeed the luckless lover had heard nothing of the adventures at the Palace of the Peris. Gheti Afroz then informed him all her proceedings for which he was extremely grateful and said

For thy dear love who would not bear

Adventures ever strange and rare 

         The jovial assembly met and Ruh Afza handed round

round the ruby colored wine to the sound of mirth and music. The two lovers were all the world to each other and Melech Mahommed kissed her hands and feet repeating this verse:

All mortal love compared with thee

Seems like the pathway dust to me

The dust shall flit in empty air

Nor ever soil a foot so far 

         While there they enjoyed each others society, the voice of Perizadis with terrible noise and tumult was heard in the Medare and they presently perceived that it was the Vizir of the king to whom Gheti Afroz had been betrothed by her father Ansor Shah. He came as an ambassador and was introduced into the presence of the princess who ordered him to deliver his message. May you attain every happiness said he, thy Master desires me to say My heart has for a long time been yours but you have never shown me any affection Mean time the precious days of life are given to the wind If it be your intention rather have pity on me and kill me at once for one of your glances is the sign of life or death to me but if there is any kindness in your tender heart give me

me a favorable answer that I may know my fate. Gheti Afroz answered et him take off his affections from me and leave me to the enjoyment of my own destiny. This youth of the race of man who sits here before you will I make the diadem of my bower. Hope nothing from me for I am quite incapable of altering my conduct. The Vizir replied, Thou art done with me and I am done with thee and immediately departed with a burning breast and a watery eye. Gheti Afroz took the hand of Melech Mahommed and seated him on her own throne and said, My faithful friend in your separations from me you have endured many diseases but now I am wholly and solely yours I devote myself to you and resign myself entirely into your hands. Be you my head the throne the kingdom and myself are yours then. Melech Mahommed heard these words had he been sick for a hundred years he had instantly revived and he repeated

He that in thirst expiring lay

Has found where life’s pure waters play

The wealth of all the world can bring

No joy like Life’s celestial spring,

Then

Then the faithful Melech Mahommed sat on throne and spent all the rest of his life in the glances of his beautiful Mistress in joy rejoicing mirth and pleasure and the full enjoyment of his desires.

         Danadil had no sooner finished the story than Semen Ruh arose and threw herself at the feet of the Sheik “How are you now said the sheik. She replied, “By your favour I am quite recovered and I now perceive no vestige of my disorder. Azar Shah likewise fell at the feet of Sheik and expressed his obligations. He extolled Danadil and Ruoshen Zemir to the skies and punished the sorceress with the edge of the sword. He ordered the double drums, durms and cornets to be sounded and prepared a royal entertainment and distributed great sums in charity. He invited all the learned men and men of science and caused the city to be adorned with mirrors and declared himself the disciple of the venerable Sheik. After sometime the Sheik requested permission to depart and was attended the first stage by the king with every spices of respect and honour. There the Shah

Shah took leave of him and returned to his own City of Abriez where he ordered a public thanksgiving and lived in happiness and pleasure with Semen Ruh in the full attainment of his desires with a numerous offspring. Thus God granted their desires and wishes and so may he grant all of us to quaff copiously the sherbet of his presence and love through the favour of the prophet and his descendants. Amen.

         Copy from a Mss. in the possession of Leyden Mordaunt Ricketts Calcutta 26th January 1812