One Thousand and One Nights - (Complete 8 Volumes) (Full Translation Edition)

Author: / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-04-01
Features: Legend has it that in ancient times, on the islands of China and India, there was an ancient kingdom called the Sasan Kingdom. The king had a large army and a luxurious palace filled with servants. The king had two sons, both heroes. In terms of bravery, the older brother was slightly superior to his younger brother. The brothers ruled separate territories. The older brother worked diligently and justly, earning the love of his subjects and was known as King Shehrayar. The younger brother's name was Shahrazman and he ruled the Samarkand Kingdom. The two kings were considerate to their people, fair-minded, and skilled in governance. For over twenty years, both countries enjoyed peace, prosperity, and a festive atmosphere.
One day, the older brother missed his younger brother and longed to see him. He sent his prime minister to Samarkand to invite Shahrazman. The prime minister accepted the task, packed his belongings, and set off on the journey to Samarkand. The prime minister had a smooth journey and arrived safely in Shahrazman's capital after a few days. Upon entering the palace, he met King Shahrazman, greeted him, and conveyed the older brother's longing to see his sibling. Shahrazman had also been longing to see his brother and was delighted to receive the invitation. He instructed his servants to pack his belongings, asked the prime minister to take over the kingdom temporarily, and then set off with a few attendants to visit his family.
At midnight, as the large group was traveling, Shahrazman suddenly remembered that he had left an important item in the palace. He immediately pulled his horse back. Upon returning to the palace, he was shocked to find the queen lying in his bed, embraced by a black slave. Seeing this, Shahrazman froze, his face pale, and broke into a cold sweat. He thought, "Heaven, I just left the capital, and she's already like this. If I stay with my brother for a while, who knows what mischief she'll get into." With that, Shahrazman drew his sword, struck down both the man and the woman, and their heads rolled to the ground, staining the curtains with blood. He quickly retrieved the forgotten item, turned, and hurried out of the palace, mounted his horse, and rushed to catch up with the group.
King Shahrazman and his entourage traveled day and night and arrived safely outside the capital of his brother, King Shehrayar, within a few days. Upon learning that his brother had arrived, Shehrayar was overjoyed and immediately led his ministers to greet him. The long-separated brothers were delighted to see each other and embraced tightly, asking after each other's well-being. Accompanied by his officials, generals, and attendants, they entered the city, where the streets were decorated with lights and people were smiling joyfully. The entire city was filled with a festive and cheerful atmosphere.
Inside the palace, the brothers chatted happily about their longing for each other. Just as they were enjoying the conversation, Shahrazman remembered the scene of the queen and the black slave. His eyes went blank, his face turned pale, and he froze like a statue. Seeing this, Shehrayar guessed that his brother must be exhausted from the long journey and worried about leaving his kingdom and throne. He didn't ask further questions.
A few days later, Shehrayar noticed that his brother was still listless and thin. He asked, "Brother, I see you're weak and pale. What's wrong?" Shahrazman replied, "Brother, there's something heart-wrenching about me, but I can't tell you." He didn't reveal the truth about the queen and the black slave. Shehrayar didn't press further and said, "What's to be heartbroken about? Come with me to hunt in the wilderness and take your mind off things! Hunting is the best way to relieve stress and enjoy life!" Shahrazman apologized but said he didn't feel like going out. Shehrayar took a few attendants and went alone.
The palace where Shahrazman stayed had a garden outside. From his window, he could see the palace gates open. The queen, dressed in colorful attire and with a captivating beauty, emerged with twenty maids and twenty male servants. She slowly walked out of the palace, into the garden, and reached a grassy area near a fountain. There, the queen and the black slave removed their clothes, embraced each other, and sat down. After a while, the queen called out in a sultry voice, "Hey, Mesood, come here!" A strong black slave came forward, embraced the queen, who in turn embraced him tightly, occasionally letting out happy moans as they lay on the grass. The other servants and maids imitated them, embracing and kissing one another, their laughter filling the air. As the saying goes, "One, drunk and wild, the other, awake and playful. The drunk is like a butterfly in a flower's dream, the awake like a bee collecting nectar. The drunk is all about passion, the awake, half-enthusiastic but still enjoying. Love and desire, each in their own way, are delightful." They continued this noisy and chaotic scene until the sun set.
Seeing this, Shahrazman thought, "By Allah, compared to this, my misfortune is nothing!" With that, he felt his frustration and sorrow lighten. He muttered to himself, "Ah, my brother's situation is far worse than mine!" From then on, Shahrazman's mood lifted, his appetite returned, and he resumed his normal eating habits, his face quickly regaining its healthy color.
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