12 illustration(s) from this book
When the Wezeer's daughter heard the words of her father, she said to
him, It must be as I have requested. So he arrayed her, and went to the
King Shahriyár. Now she had given directions to her young sister, saying
to her, When I have gone to the King, I will send to request thee to
come; and when thou comest to me, and seest a convenient time, do thou
say to me, O my sister, relate to me some strange story to beguile our
waking hour:[i_41]--and I will relate to thee a story that shall,
if it be the will of God, be the means of procuring deliverance.
Her father, the Wezeer, then took her to the King, who, when he saw
him, was rejoiced, and said, Hast thou brought me what I desired? He
answered, Yes. When the King, therefore, introduced himself to her, she
wept; and he said to her, What aileth thee? She answered, O King, I have
a young sister, and I wish to take leave of her. So the King sent to
her; and she came to her sister, and embraced her, and sat near the foot
of the bed; and after she had waited for a proper opportunity, she said,
By Allah! O my sister, relate to us a story to beguile the waking hour
of our night. Most willingly, answered Shahrazád, if this virtuous King
permit me. And the King, hearing these words, and being restless, was
pleased with the idea of listening to the story; and thus, on the first
night of the thousand and one, Shahrazád commenced her recitations.
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NOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION.