English
THIS,OmyBestBeloved,isastory—anewandawonderfulstory—astoryquitedifferentfromtheotherstories—astoryaboutTheMostWiseSovereignSuleiman-bin-Daoud—SolomontheSonofDavid.
Therearethreehundredandfifty-fivestoriesaboutSuleiman-bin-Daoud;butthisisnotoneofthem.
ItisnotthestoryoftheLapwingwhofoundtheWater;ortheHoopoewhoshadedSuleimanbin-Daoudfromtheheat.
ItisnotthestoryoftheGlassPavement,ortheRubywiththeCrookedHole,ortheGoldBarsofBalkis.
ItisthestoryoftheButterflythatStamped.
Nowattendalloveragainandlisten!
Suleiman-bin-Daoudwaswise.Heunderstoodwhatthebeastssaid,whatthebirdssaid,whatthefishessaid,andwhattheinsectssaid.
Heunderstoodwhattherockssaiddeepundertheearthwhentheybowedintowardseachotherandgroaned;andheunderstoodwhatthetreessaidwhentheyrustledinthemiddleofthemorning.
Heunderstoodeverything,fromthebishoponthebenchtothehyssoponthewall,andBalkis,hisHeadQueen,theMostBeautifulQueenBalkis,wasnearlyaswiseashewas.
Suleiman-bin-Daoudwasstrong.Uponthethirdfingeroftherighthandheworearing.
Whenheturneditonce,AfritsandDjinnscameOutoftheearthtodowhateverhetoldthem.
Whenheturnedittwice,Fairiescamedownfromtheskytodowhateverhetoldthem;andwhenheturneditthreetimes,theverygreatangelAzraeloftheSwordcamedressedasawater-carrier,andtoldhimthenewsofthethreeworlds,—Above—Below—andHere.
AndyetSuleiman-bin-Daoudwasnotproud.
Heveryseldomshowedoff,andwhenhedidhewassorryforit.
Oncehetriedtofeedalltheanimalsinalltheworldinoneday,butwhenthefoodwasreadyanAnimalcameoutofthedeepseaandateitupinthreemouthfuls.
Suleiman-bin-Daoudwasverysurprisedandsaid,‘OAnimal,whoareyou?’
AndtheAnimalsaid,‘OKing,liveforever!
Iamthesmallestofthirtythousandbrothers,andourhomeisatthebottomofthesea.
Weheardthatyouweregoingtofeedalltheanimalsinalltheworld,andmybrotherssentmetoaskwhendinnerwouldbeready.’
Suleiman-bin-Daoudwasmoresurprisedthaneverandsaid,‘OAnimal,youhaveeatenallthedinnerthatImadereadyforalltheanimalsintheworld.’
AndtheAnimalsaid,‘OKing,liveforever,butdoyoureallycallthatadinner?
WhereIcomefromweeacheattwiceasmuchasthatbetweenmeals.’
ThenSuleiman-bin-Daoudfellflatonhisfaceandsaid,‘OAnimal!
IgavethatdinnertoshowwhatagreatandrichkingIwas,andnotbecauseIreallywantedtobekindtotheanimals.
NowIamashamed,anditservesmeright.
Suleiman-bin-Daoudwasareallytrulywiseman,BestBeloved.
Afterthatheneverforgotthatitwassillytoshowoff;andnowtherealstorypartofmystorybegins.
Hemarriedeversomanywifes.Hemarriedninehundredandninety-ninewives,besidestheMostBeautifulBalkis;andtheyalllivedinagreatgoldenpalaceinthemiddleofalovelygardenwithfountains.
Hedidn’treallywantnine-hundredandninety-ninewives,butinthosedayseverybodymarriedeversomanywives,andofcoursetheKinghadtomarryeversomanymorejusttoshowthathewastheKing.
Someofthewiveswerenice,butsomeweresimplyhorrid,andthehorridonesquarrelledwiththeniceonesandmadethemhorridtoo,andthentheywouldallquarrelwithSuleiman-bin-Daoud,andthatwashorridforhim.
ButBalkistheMostBeautifulneverquarrelledwithSuleiman-bin-Daoud.Shelovedhimtoomuch.
ShesatinherroomsintheGoldenPalace,orwalkedinthePalacegarden,andwastrulysorryforhim.
OfcourseifhehadchosentoturnhisringonhisfingerandcalluptheDjinnsandtheAfritstheywouldhavemagickedallthoseninehundredandninety-ninequarrelsomewivesintowhitemulesofthedesertorgreyhoundsorpomegranateseeds;butSuleiman-bin-Daoudthoughtthatthatwouldbeshowingoff.
So,whentheyquarrelledtoomuch,heonlywalkedbyhimselfinonepartofthebeautifulPalacegardensandwishedhehadneverbeenborn.
Oneday,whentheyhadquarrelledforthreeweeks—allninehundredandninety-ninewivestogether—Suleiman-bin-Daoudwentoutforpeaceandquietasusual;andamongtheorangetreeshemetBalkistheMostBeautiful,verysorrowfulbecauseSuleiman-bin-Daoudwassoworried.
Andshesaidtohim,‘OmyLordandLightofmyEyes,turntheringuponyourfingerandshowtheseQueensofEgyptandMesopotamiaandPersiaandChinathatyouarethegreatandterribleKing.’
ButSuleiman-bin-Daoudshookhisheadandsaid,‘OmyLadyandDelightofmyLife,remembertheAnimalthatcameoutoftheseaandmademeashamedbeforealltheanimalsinalltheworldbecauseIshowedoff.
Now,ifIshowedoffbeforetheseQueensofPersiaandEgyptandAbyssiniaandChina,merelybecausetheyworryme,ImightbemadeevenmoreashamedthanIhavebeen.’
AndBalkistheMostBeautifulsaid,‘OmyLordandTreasureofmySoul,whatwillyoudo?’
AndSuleiman-bin-Daoudsaid,‘OmyLadyandContentofmyHeart,Ishallcontinuetoenduremyfateatthehandsoftheseninehundredandninety-nineQueenswhovexmewiththeircontinualquarrelling.’
Sohewentonbetweentheliliesandtheloquatsandtherosesandthecannasandtheheavy-scentedginger-plantsthatgrewinthegarden,tillhecametothegreatcamphor-treethatwascalledtheCamphorTreeofSuleiman-bin-Daoud.
ButBalkishidamongthetallirisesandthespottedbamboosandtheredlilliesbehindthecamphor-tree,soastobenearherowntruelove,Suleiman-bin-Daoud.
PresentlytwoButterfliesflewunderthetree,quarrelling.
Suleiman-bin-Daoudheardonesaytotheother,‘Iwonderatyourpresumptionintalkinglikethistome.
Don’tyouknowthatifIstampedwithmyfootallSuleiman-bin-Daoud’sPalaceandthisgardenherewouldimmediatelyvanishinaclapofthunder.’
ThenSuleiman-bin-Daoudforgothisninehundredandninety-ninebothersomewives,andlaughed,tillthecamphor-treeshook,attheButterfly’sboast.
Andheheldouthisfingerandsaid,‘Littleman,comehere.’
TheButterflywasdreadfullyfrightened,buthemanagedtoflyuptothehandofSuleiman-bin-Daoud,andclungthere,fanninghimself.
Suleiman-bin-Daoudbenthisheadandwhisperedverysoftly,‘Littleman,youknowthatallyourstampingwouldn’tbendonebladeofgrass.
Whatmadeyoutellthatawfulfibtoyourwife?—fordoubtlesssheisyourwife.’
TheButterflylookedatSuleiman-bin-DaoudandsawthemostwiseKing’seyetwinklelikestarsonafrostynight,andhepickeduphiscouragewithbothwings,andheputhisheadononesideandsaid,‘OKing,liveforever.
Sheismywife;andyouknowwhatwivesarelike.
Suleiman-bin-Daoudsmiledinhisbeardandsaid,‘Yes,Iknow,littlebrother.
‘Onemustkeeptheminordersomehow,saidtheButterfly,andshehasbeenquarrellingwithmeallthemorning.Isaidthattoquiether.’
AndSuleiman-bin-Daoudsaid,‘Mayitquiether.Gobacktoyourwife,littlebrother,andletmehearwhatyousay.’
BackflewtheButterflytohiswife,whowasallofatwitterbehindaleaf,andshesaid,‘Heheardyou!Suleiman-bin-Daoudhimselfheardyou!’
‘Heardme!’saidtheButterfly.‘Ofcoursehedid.Imeanthimtohearme.’
‘Andwhatdidhesay?Oh,whatdidhesay?’
‘Well,’saidtheButterfly,fanninghimselfmostimportantly,‘betweenyouandme,mydear—ofcourseIdon’tblamehim,becausehisPalacemusthavecostagreatdealandtheorangesarejustripening,—heaskedmenottostamp,andIpromisedIwouldn’t.’
‘Gracious!’saidhiswife,andsatquitequiet;butSuleiman-bin-DaoudlaughedtillthetearsrandownhisfaceattheimpudenceofthebadlittleButterfly.
BalkistheMostBeautifulstoodupbehindthetreeamongtheredliliesandsmiledtoherself,forshehadheardallthistalk.
Shethought,‘IfIamwiseIcanyetsavemyLordfromthepersecutionsofthesequarrelsomeQueens,’andsheheldoutherfingerandwhisperedsoftlytotheButterfly’sWife,‘Littlewoman,comehere.’
UpflewtheButterfly’sWife,veryfrightened,andclungtoBalkis’swhitehand.
Balkisbentherbeautifulheaddownandwhispered,‘Littlewoman,doyoubelievewhatyourhusbandhasjustsaid?’
TheButterfly’sWifelookedatBalkis,andsawthemostbeautifulQueen’seyesshininglikedeeppoolswithstarlightonthem,andshepickeduphercouragewithbothwingsandsaid,‘OQueen,belovelyforever.Youknowwhatmen-folkarelike.’
AndtheQueenBalkis,theWiseBalkisofSheba,putherhandtoherlipstohideasmileandsaid,‘Littlesister,Iknow.’
‘Theygetangry,’saidtheButterfly’sWife,fanningherselfquickly,‘overnothingatall,butwemusthumourthem,OQueen.Theynevermeanhalftheysay.
IfitpleasesmyhusbandtobelievethatIbelievehecanmakeSuleiman-bin-Daoud’sPalacedisappearbystampinghisfoot,I’msureIdon’tcare.He’llforgetallaboutitto-morrow.’
‘Littlesister,’saidBalkis,‘youarequiteright;butnexttimehebeginstoboast,takehimathisword.
Askhimtostamp,andseewhatwillhappen.
Weknowwhatmen-folkarelike,don’twe?He’llbeverymuchashamed.’
AwayflewtheButterfly’sWifetoherhusband,andinfiveminutestheywerequarrellingworsethanever.
‘Remember!’saidtheButterfly.‘RememberwhatIcandoifIstampmyfoot.’
‘Idon’tbelieveyouonelittlebit,’saidtheButterfly’sWife.‘Ishouldverymuchliketoseeitdone.Supposeyoustampnow.’
‘IpromisedSuleiman-bin-DaoudthatIwouldn’t,’saidtheButterfly,‘andIdon’twanttobreakmypromise.’
‘Itwouldn’tmatterifyoudid,’saidhiswife.‘Youcouldn’tbendabladeofgrasswithyourstamping.Idareyoutodoit,’shesaid.Stamp!Stamp!Stamp!’
Suleiman-bin-Daoud,sittingunderthecamphor-tree,heardeverywordofthis,andhelaughedashehadneverlaughedinhislifebefore.
HeforgotallabouthisQueens;heforgotallabouttheAnimalthatcameoutofthesea;heforgotaboutshowingoff.
Hejustlaughedwithjoy,andBalkis,ontheothersideofthetree,smiledbecauseherowntruelovewassojoyful.
PresentlytheButterfly,veryhotandpuffy,camewhirlingbackundertheshadowofthecamphor-treeandsaidtoSuleiman,‘Shewantsmetostamp!
Shewantstoseewhatwillhappen,OSuleiman-bin-Daoud!
YouknowIcan’tdoit,andnowshe’llneverbelieveawordIsay.
She’lllaughatmetotheendofmydays!’
‘No,littlebrother,’saidSuleiman-bin-Daoud,‘shewillneverlaughatyouagain,’andheturnedtheringonhisfinger—justforthelittleButterfly’ssake,notforthesakeofshowingoff,—and,loandbehold,fourhugeDjinnscameoutoftheearth!
‘Slaves,’saidSuleiman-bin-Daoud,‘whenthisgentlemanonmyfinger’(thatwaswheretheimpudentButterflywassitting)‘stampshisleftfrontforefootyouwillmakemyPalaceandthesegardensdisappearinaclapofthunder.
Whenhestampsagainyouwillbringthembackcarefully.’
‘Now,littlebrother,’hesaid,‘gobacktoyourwifeandstampallyou’veamindto.’
AwayflewtheButterflytohiswife,whowascrying,‘Idareyoutodoit!Idareyoutodoit!Stamp!Stampnow!Stamp!’
BalkissawthefourvastDjinnsstoopdowntothefourcornersofthegardenswiththePalaceinthemiddle,andsheclappedherhandssoftlyandsaid,‘AtlastSuleiman-bin-DaoudwilldoforthesakeofaButterflywhatheoughttohavedonelongagoforhisownsake,andthequarrelsomeQueenswillbefrightened!’
Thenthebutterflystamped.TheDjinnsjerkedthePalaceandthegardensathousandmilesintotheair:therewasamostawfulthunder-clap,andeverythinggrewinky-black.
TheButterfly’sWifeflutteredaboutinthedark,crying,‘Oh,I’llbegood!I’msosorryIspoke.
Onlybringthegardensback,mydeardarlinghusband,andI’llnevercontradictagain.’
TheButterflywasnearlyasfrightenedashiswife,andSuleiman-bin-DaoudlaughedsomuchthatitwasseveralminutesbeforehefoundbreathenoughtowhispertotheButterfly,‘Stampagain,littlebrother.
GivemebackmyPalace,mostgreatmagician.’
‘Yes,givehimbackhisPalace,’saidtheButterfly’sWife,stillflyingaboutinthedarklikeamoth.‘GivehimbackhisPalace,anddon’tlet’shaveanymorehorridmagic.’
‘Well,mydear,’saidtheButterflyasbravelyashecould,‘youseewhatyournagginghasledto.
Ofcourseitdoesn’tmakeanydifferencetome—I’musedtothiskindofthing—butasafavourtoyouandtoSuleiman-bin-DaoudIdon’tmindputtingthingsright.’
Sohestampedoncemore,andthatinstanttheDjinnsletdownthePalaceandthegardens,withoutevenabump.
Thesunshoneonthedark-greenorangeleaves;thefountainsplayedamongthepinkEgyptianlilies;thebirdswentonsinging,andtheButterfly’sWifelayonhersideunderthecamphor-treewagglingherwingsandpanting,‘Oh,I’llbegood!I’llbegood!’
Suleiman-bin-Daoudcouldhardlyspeakforlaughing.
Heleanedbackallweakandhiccoughy,andshookhisfingerattheButterflyandsaid,‘Ogreatwizard,whatisthesenseofreturningtomemyPalaceifatthesametimeyouslaymewithmirth!’
Thencameaterriblenoise,foralltheninehundredandninety-nineQueensranoutofthePalaceshriekingandshoutingandcallingfortheirbabies.
Theyhurrieddownthegreatmarblestepsbelowthefountain,onehundredabreast,andtheMostWiseBalkiswentstatelyforwardtomeetthemandsaid,‘Whatisyourtrouble,OQueens?’
Theystoodonthemarblestepsonehundredabreastandshouted,‘Whatisourtrouble?
Wewerelivingpeacefullyinourgoldenpalace,asisourcustom,whenuponasuddenthePalacedisappeared,andwewereleftsittinginathickandnoisomedarkness;anditthundered,andDjinnsandAfritsmovedaboutinthedarkness!
Thatisourtrouble,OHeadQueen,andwearemostextremelytroubledonaccountofthattrouble,foritwasatroublesometrouble,unlikeanytroublewehaveknown.’
ThenBalkistheMostBeautifulQueen—Suleiman-bin-Daoud’sVeryBestBeloved—QueenthatwasofShebaandSableandtheRiversoftheGoldoftheSouth—fromtheDesertofZinntotheTowersofZimbabwe—Balkis,almostaswiseastheMostWiseSuleiman-bin-Daoudhimself,said,‘Itisnothing,OQueens!
AButterflyhasmadecomplaintagainsthiswifebecauseshequarrelledwithhim,andithaspleasedourLordSuleiman-bin-Daoudtoteachheralessoninlow-speakingandhumbleness,forthatiscountedavirtueamongthewivesofthebutterflies.’
ThenupandspokeanEgyptianQueen—thedaughterofaPharoah—andshesaid,‘OurPalacecannotbepluckedupbytherootslikealeekforthesakeofalittleinsect.No!
Suleiman-bin-Daoudmustbedead,andwhatweheardandsawwastheearththunderinganddarkeningatthenews.’
ThenBalkisbeckonedthatboldQueenwithoutlookingather,andsaidtoherandtotheothers,‘Comeandsee.’
Theycamedownthemarblesteps,onehundredabreast,andbeneathhiscamphor-tree,stillweakwithlaughing,theysawtheMostWiseKingSuleiman-bin-DaoudrockingbackandforthwithaButterflyoneitherhand,andtheyheardhimsay,‘Owifeofmybrotherintheair,rememberafterthis,topleaseyourhusbandinallthings,lesthebeprovokedtostamphisfootyetagain;forhehassaidthatheisusedtothismagic,andheismosteminentlyagreatmagician—onewhostealsawaytheveryPalaceofSuleirnan-bin-Daoudhimself.
Goinpeace,littlefolk!’
Andhekissedthemonthewings,andtheyflewaway.
ThenalltheQueensexceptBalkis—theMostBeautifulandSplendidBalkis,whostoodapartsmiling—fellflatontheirfaces,fortheysaid,‘IfthesethingsaredonewhenaButterflyisdispleasedwithhiswife,whatshallbedonetouswhohavevexedourKingwithourloud-speakingandopenquarrellingthroughmanydays?’
Thentheyputtheirveilsovertheirheads,andtheyputtheirhandsovertheirmouths,andtheytiptoedbacktothePalacemostmousy-quiet.
ThenBalkis—TheMostBeautifulandExcellentBalkis—wentforwardthroughtheredliliesintotheshadeofthecamphor-treeandlaidherhanduponSuleiman-bin-Daoud’sshoulderandsaid,‘OmyLordandTreasureofmySoul,rejoice,forwehavetaughttheQueensofEgyptandEthiopiaandAbyssiniaandPersiaandIndiaandChinawithagreatandamemorableteaching.’
AndSuleiman-bin-Daoud,stilllookingaftertheButterflieswheretheyplayedinthesunlight,said,‘OmyLadyandJewelofmyFelicity,whendidthishappen?
ForIhavebeenjestingwithaButterflyeversinceIcameintothegarden.’AndhetoldBalkiswhathehaddone.
Balkis—ThetenderandMostLovelyBalkis—said,‘OmyLordandRegentofmyExistence,Ihidbehindthecamphor-treeandsawitall.
ItwasIwhotoldtheButterfly’sWifetoasktheButterflytostamp,becauseIhopedthatforthesakeofthejestmyLordwouldmakesomegreatmagicandthattheQueenswouldseeitandbefrightened.’
AndshetoldhimwhattheQueenshadsaidandseenandthought.
ThenSuleiman-bin-Daoudroseupfromhisseatunderthecamphor-tree,andstretchedhisarmsandrejoicedandsaid,‘OmyLadyandSweetenerofmyDays,knowthatifIhadmadeamagicagainstmyQueensforthesakeofprideoranger,asImadethatfeastforalltheanimals,Ishouldcertainlyhavebeenputtoshame.
ButbymeansofyourwisdomImadethemagicforthesakeofajestandforthesakeofalittleButterfly,and—behold—ithasalsodeliveredmefromthevexationsofmyvexatiouswives!
Tellme,therefore,OmyLadyandHeartofmyHeart,howdidyoucometobesowise?’
AndBalkistheQueen,beautifulandtall,lookedupintoSuleiman-bin-Daoud’seyesandputherheadalittleononeside,justliketheButterfly,andsaid,‘First,OmyLord,becauseIlovedyou;andsecondly,OmyLord,becauseIknowwhatwomen-folkare.’
ThentheywentuptothePalaceandlivedhappilyeverafterwards.
Butwasn’titcleverofBalkis?
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