The grand-vizir himself was the father of two daughters, of whom the
elder was called Scheherazade, and the younger Dinarzade. Dinarzade
had no particular gifts to distinguish her from other girls, but her
sister was clever and courageous in the highest degree. Her father had
given her the best masters in philosophy, medicine, history and the
fine arts, and besides all this, her beauty excelled that of any girl
in the kingdom of Persia.
One day, when the grand-vizir was talking to his eldest daughter, who
was his delight and pride, Scheherazade said to him, "Father, I have a
favour to ask of you. Will you grant it to me?"
"I can refuse you nothing," replied he, "that is just and reasonable."
"Then listen," said Scheherazade. "I am determined to stop this
barbarous practice of the Sultan's, and to deliver the girls and
mothers from the awful fate that hangs over them."
"It would be an excellent thing to do," returned the grand-vizir, "but
how do you propose to accomplish it?"
"My father," answered Scheherazade, "it is you who have to provide the
Sultan daily with a fresh wife, and I implore you, by all the affection
you bear me, to allow the honour to fall upon me."
"Have you lost your senses?" cried the grand-vizir, starting back in
horror. "What has put such a thing into your head? You ought to know
by this time what it means to be the sultan's bride!"
"Yes, my father, I know it well," replied she, "and I am not afraid to
think of it. If I fail, my death will be a glorious one, and if I
succeed I shall have done a great service to my country."