Prevod

There once lived a very devout man who went many years without having a child. He was a great physician: there was not a remedy in the world that he did not know, and he possessed much other learning besides. At last, when he was very old, his wife conceived. He owned nothing but his books of medicine.

The man fell ill and called his wife to him. “Bring me my book,” he said. She brought it, and he opened it and looked inside. “You are with child,” he told her. “You will bear a son, and you must name him Hassibu Karim ad Dini.” Then the child’s father died.

In time the woman bore a son and brought him up until he was a big boy. One day the child asked his mother, “What is my name?” She replied, “Wait. Tomorrow we shall hold a feast and invite people to come and eat, so that I may give you the name your father entrusted to me.”

The next morning she prepared a great feast and invited the astrologers. When they had come and eaten, she told them, “Today I shall give your child the name his father entrusted to me.” “Give it to him,” they said.

“His name is Hassibu Karim ad Dini,” she told them. “May it bring him good fortune,” they replied. He was sent to school to learn to read. When he had finished his schooling, he was placed in a workshop to learn to sew clothes, but he could not master it. He was apprenticed to a silversmith, but could not master that either. Whatever trade he was taught, he failed to learn. His mother said, “Then stay at home, my son.” So he stayed at home, eating and sleeping.

He asked her, “What work did my father do?” “He was a very great physician,” she replied. “Where are his books of medicine?” he asked. “Many years have passed,” she said. “Go and look inside and see whether they are still there.” He went and looked, and found that insects had eaten them. Only one volume remained. He took it up and read it, and found all those remedies recorded there.

One day their neighbours came and said to his mother, “Let this boy come with us to cut firewood.” There were four of them, and they made their living cutting wood and bringing it into town to sell, carrying it on donkeys. His mother said, “Very well. Tomorrow I shall buy him a donkey, and you can all go together.”

In the morning his mother bought him a donkey. The men came, and he went to work with them. They gathered a great deal of firewood, brought it into town to sell, and divided the money.

They went again the second day, and the third, the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth. On the seventh day, clouds gathered and rain began to fall, so they ran to shelter beneath a great rock.

Hassibu was sitting by himself. He picked up a stone and struck the ground, and heard a hollow sound. He called his companions. “It sounds hollow here!” he told them.

“Strike it again,” they said. He did so, and they too heard the hollow sound. “Let us dig,” they said. They dug and discovered a great pit like a well. When they looked inside, they saw that it was filled to the brim with honey.

They abandoned the firewood and began fetching honey every day instead. It was Hassibu who had first discovered the honey pit. They told him, “You go down inside, scoop up the honey, and pass it to us. We shall take it into town and sell it, and when we have finished, we shall divide the money.” “Very well,” he said. This became their daily work for three months, and they amassed a great deal of wealth.

At last the honey was nearly gone, with only a little left far down at the very bottom. They told him, “Go down inside and scrape up what is left below. When you have finished, we shall lower a rope for you to hold, and pull you up.” He agreed and gathered what remained. Then he called, “Give me the rope.” “There is no rope here,” they answered. “Wait a little; it is coming.” They took counsel together and said, “Let us leave him down there in the pit and divide the wealth among ourselves.”

One of them spoke up. “What shall we tell his mother?” Another answered, “We shall tell her, ‘Your son went off to relieve himself, and a lion seized him and his donkey. We could not search far into the forest, but we heard a lion roaring, and knew it was the lion that had taken him.’”

They went back to town and told his mother. She wept bitterly and observed the mourning rites until they were over. The men divided the money and said, “Let us take a little money to our friend’s mother as well.” So they took her some. Thereafter, every day, one would bring her rice, another oil, another something to eat with her rice, and another clothes.

Now let us return to Hassibu. He remained there through the first day, the second, and the third, and understood that his companions had abandoned him. He gave thanks to God. He walked about inside the pit, which was very large. At night he slept there, and when he woke in the morning, he would find a little honey and eat it. One day, as he sat thinking, he saw an enormous scorpion fall to the ground, and killed it.

He sat pondering. “Where did this scorpion come from? There must be an opening somewhere. I shall go and look for it.” He searched and found a little hole, through which he could see light far away. He scraped at it with his knife until it was wide enough, then squeezed through. Ahead he could see a pale light, and he made his way towards it. At last he emerged into a very spacious clearing.

He saw a path and followed it until he came to a great stone house. There were many chairs, and its door was of gold, its lock of gold, and its key of pearl. He took the key and opened the door. Inside he found a great hall with many chairs. One chair was made of gold, inlaid with pearls, jewels, and precious stones. He also saw a beautifully made bed, and went and lay down upon it.

Presently he heard a great many people approaching. They came up to the house, saw that the door had been opened, and entered. The one who had arrived was the Sultan of the Snakes.

His soldiers filled the courtyard, while he and his ministers went inside. To their astonishment, they found a man asleep on the bed—the Sultan’s own bed, where he rested. They wanted to kill him, but the Sultan said, “Leave him. Do not kill him. Set me upon my chair.” And they placed him on the chair.

“Wake him gently,” he told them, and they woke him. Hassibu rose and sat up. He saw many snakes surrounding him, and among them one of great beauty, dressed in royal robes.

“Who are you?” Hassibu asked him. “I am the Sultan of the Snakes, and this is my house,” he replied. “And who are you?” “I am Hassibu Karim ad Dini.” “Where have you come from?” “I know neither where I have come from nor where I am going.” “Be at ease,” the Sultan told him. Then he said to his soldiers, “Go and bring every kind of fruit from the forest, so that we may honour our guest.”

They went and brought fruit of every kind, setting a whole platter before him. “Eat,” they said. He ate until he was satisfied, and they gave him water to drink. Then he sat with them and they talked.

The Sultan of the Snakes asked Hassibu, “Tell me your story, from the time you left your home until today.” Hassibu told him everything that had happened to him on the way, until he had arrived there.

Then Hassibu Karim ad Dini asked the Sultan of the Snakes, “Tell me your story too, so that I may know it.” “My story is a very long one,” he replied. “Once, long ago, we left this place for Mount Al Kaf, to take a change of air. While I was staying there, one day I saw a man approaching and asked him, ‘Where have you come from?’ He told me, ‘I come from my own city, and I am wandering through the wilderness.’ I asked, ‘Whose son are you?’ He replied, ‘My name is Bolukia. My father, the Sultan, died, and I went to open a chest. Inside I found a bag, and when I opened it, there was a little brass box. I opened that and found something wrapped in a robe. I unfolded the robe and discovered a book. I read it and found many praises of the Prophet. I was seized with a longing to see this man. I asked people about him, but they told me that he had not yet been born. I said, “I shall wander until I find him.” I left my city and my wealth, and I have been wandering ever since, but I have not yet seen him.’

“I said to him, ‘Where will you find him, when he has not yet been born? Perhaps if you could obtain the water of the snakes, you might live without dying until you met him. But as things stand, it is no use: the water of the snakes is far away.’

“He said, ‘Farewell, then. I shall go on wandering.’ ‘Farewell,’ I replied, and he went his way. At last he reached Egypt, where he met a man who asked him, ‘Who are you?’ ‘I am Bolukia,’ he replied. ‘And who are you?’ The man said, ‘My name is Alfan.’ He asked Bolukia, ‘Where are you going?’ ‘I have left my city, my kingdom, and my wealth,’ he replied, ‘and I am searching for the Prophet.’

“Alfan said, ‘Where will you find him, when he has not yet been born? But let us go and seek the Sultan of the Snakes. If we find him, he will give us a medicine that will enable us to reach the place where the prophet Sulimani lies. We shall obtain his ring and rule, and all the jinn will be subject to us. We shall command them to do whatever we wish.’

“Bolukia told him, ‘I have seen the Sultan of the Snakes on Mount Al Kaf.’ ‘Then let us go,’ said Alfan. In his heart, Alfan desired the prophet Sulimani’s ring so that he might rule as king over the jinn and the birds. But Bolukia wished to see the Prophet; that was his heart’s desire.

“Alfan said to Bolukia, ‘Now let us make a cage to trap the Sultan of the Snakes. Once he has entered it, we shall shut it and carry him away.’ ‘Very well,’ he replied. Alfan made a cage and placed two cups inside, one of milk and one of wine. Then they set out and came to the mountain.

“I had not yet left to return to my own city. They came and set down the cage. I went inside and drank the wine, which made me drunk, and they shut me in and carried me away.

“When I awoke, I found myself being carried by men, and Bolukia was one of those who had taken me. I said, ‘The children of Adam are not good. What do you want now?’ They told me, ‘We want a medicine to rub on our feet, so that we may walk over the sea until we reach the place we seek.’ I said, ‘Let us go.’

“They took me to an island where many trees grew. Whenever the trees saw me, they all spoke: ‘I am a remedy for this,’ and ‘I am a remedy for that,’ ‘I am a remedy for the head,’ and ‘I am a remedy for the feet.’ At last one tree said, ‘Whoever rubs me on his feet can walk over the sea.’

“They said, ‘That is the one we want,’ and took a great deal of it. Then they returned and carried me back to the mountain. They opened the cage and released me. ‘Farewell,’ they said, and I bade them farewell.

“They went their way, and whenever they came to a sea, they rubbed the medicine on their feet and crossed it. They travelled like this for a very long time, until they drew near the place where the prophet Sulimani lay. When they were close, Alfan prepared his medicines, and they went on.

“The prophet Sulimani was guarded by jinn. As the two men approached, they heard someone speaking. The prophet Sulimani lay with his hand upon his chest and the ring on his finger. The speaker called to Bolukia, ‘Where are you going?’ He replied, ‘I have come with Alfan. He is going to take that ring.’ The voice said, ‘Turn back. This man will die.’

“Alfan told Bolukia, ‘Wait here for me.’ He went on alone, but as he drew near and tried to take hold of the ring, a shout rang out at him and he was hurled far away. He returned, refusing to give up, and went forward a second time to seize the ring. A breath was blown upon him, and he was burnt to ashes.

“Bolukia saw it all, and heard someone say, ‘Turn back and go your way. That wicked man is dead.’ Bolukia turned back. In time he came to a sea, rubbed his medicine on his feet, and crossed to another island. When he reached its far shore, he applied the medicine again and crossed once more. Thus he journeyed for many days and many months, and many years passed while he was still on the road.

“One day, as he travelled, he came upon a man sitting down. He greeted him, and the man returned his greeting. ‘Who are you?’ he asked. The man replied, ‘My name is Jani Shah. Who are you?’ ‘I am Bolukia,’ he told him. Then he asked, ‘What are you doing here?’

“There were two graves, and the man sat between them. He would weep bitterly, then laugh and give thanks to God. Bolukia asked, ‘Tell me your story.’ ‘My story is a long one,’ he replied, ‘but first tell me yours. Where have you come from, and where are you going?’

“Bolukia told him, ‘I am the son of a Sultan. My father died, and I succeeded him. One day I opened my father’s chest and found a bag with a book inside it. I read the book and found praises of the Prophet, and I was seized with a great longing to see him. I left my city and wandered into the wilderness in search of this man. Everyone I meet tells me he has not yet been born. Yet I am still searching for him, and still wandering through the wilderness.’

“The man said, ‘Then sit down, and I shall tell you my story from the beginning until now.’ ‘Tell me,’ Bolukia replied. ‘I am already seated.’ He began, ‘My name is Jani Shah, and my father, whose name is Taighamusi, is a great Sultan. Every month he goes into the forest to hunt. I am his only son, and he loves me dearly. One day I said to him, “Father, let me go with you into the forest.” He told me, “Stay at home. You are not to go anywhere.” I wept so bitterly that my father said, “Come, then. Do not cry.”

“‘We set off for the forest with a great many people. When we arrived, we ate a meal, and afterwards we all went into the forest to hunt.

“‘I took a different path with my seven slaves. In the forest we saw a most beautiful gazelle and pursued it all the way to the sea, but could not catch it. The gazelle went into the water. We took a boat, and I climbed in with four of my slaves, while the other three returned to my father. We pursued the gazelle until the city was lost to sight, then caught it and slaughtered it. Just as we had finished slaughtering it, a great wind arose and drove us off course.

“‘When the three slaves reached my father, he asked them, “Where is your master?” They told him, “We chased a gazelle as far as the shore. It went into the sea, and our master and four men boarded a boat to pursue it, while we came back.”

“‘My father said, “My son is lost.” He returned to the city, observed the mourning rites, and gave thanks to God. We, meanwhile, were cast ashore on an island where there were many birds. We searched for fruit to eat and water to drink. When night came, we climbed a tree and slept. At dawn we boarded our boat and wandered on until we reached a second island, where there was not a soul. We landed and ate plenty of fruit. At night we climbed a tree to sleep, and wild beasts came out and romped about below.

“‘In the morning we fled and came to a third island. While searching for fruit, we found an apple tree laden with apples. We were about to pick some when we heard someone forbidding us. “Do not pick them,” he said. “The apple tree belongs to the king himself, and I have been set here to guard it.” At night a great many apes came. They were delighted to see us and gathered fruit for us, which they brought for us to eat until we were satisfied.

“‘They said, “Let us make this man our Sultan.” One of them said, “They will run away in the morning.” “Go and break their boat,” the others said. So they went and broke it.

“‘When we rose in the morning to escape and went down to the shore, we found our boat smashed. We returned and sat down, and they brought us food to eat and water to drink. The apes were very fond of us and did not want us to leave. We stayed there for many days.

“‘One day we went for a walk and found a large stone house with writing on its door. I read it. It said: “When a man comes to this island, these apes will not let him go, for they love him dearly and make him their king. If he wishes to leave, he will find no way out. Yet there is one path, leading towards the qibla. Follow that path and you will come to a great open space where there are lions, leopards, and snakes. You must fight them. If you overcome them, you will find a way through. Go on, and you will come to another open space where there are great ants as big as dogs, with teeth like dogs’ teeth, and very fierce. You must fight them, and if you overcome them, you will find a way to pass.”

“‘We took counsel together, and my slaves said, “Let us go, whether we live or die. We all have our weapons.” We went on until we reached the first clearing and fought there. Two of my slaves were killed. We passed through and came to the second clearing, where we fought again. My two remaining slaves were killed, and I alone survived.

“‘I wandered for many days until I came to a town. I stayed there looking for work, but could find none. Then a man came up and asked, “Do you want work?” “I do,” I replied. “Come with me,” he said, and we went to his house.

“‘He slaughtered a camel and took its hide. “I shall put you inside this hide,” he told me. “A bird will carry you to the top of the mountain. When you arrive, it will tear the hide open. Push the precious stones down, and when you have finished, I shall bring you down.”

“‘He put me inside the hide, and a bird came and carried me to the mountaintop. It was about to eat me, but I sprang up and drove it away, and it flew off. I pushed a great many precious stones down, then called, “Now bring me down!” But the man did not answer a word. He went away.

“‘“I am a dead man,” I said. I wandered through the wilderness for many days until I came to a house. Inside I found an old man, who gave me food and water, and I gave thanks to God.

“‘I stayed there, and he loved me as his own son. He gave me all the keys to the house and said, “Open any room you please, but do not open this one.” “Very well, Father,” I replied.

“‘One day he went out for a walk, and I opened the forbidden door. I saw a great garden with a river running through it. Presently three birds came and alighted beside the river. All at once they changed into people and bathed in the water. They were three women of extraordinary beauty. I watched them until they had finished bathing, put on their garments, and flown away.

“‘I went back and shut the door, but I could not eat a thing. When my father returned, he asked, “What is the matter?” I told him, “I went into the garden and saw three women who came to bathe. When they had finished, they flew away. I love one of them dearly and wish to marry her. If I cannot have her, I shall die.”

“‘He told me, “Those women are beyond your reach. They are daughters of the Sultan of the Jinn, and their home is very far away, a journey of three years.” I replied, “I do not care. You must find a way for me to have her.” He said, “Then wait until the next time they come to bathe. Hide yourself and take the garments of the one you love.”

“‘I went and waited. When they came and took off their garments, I seized hers and hid them. She was the youngest sister, and her name was Seyedati Shemsi. When they came out of the water, her sisters put on their garments, but she searched for hers and could not find them. I told her, “I have them.” “Give them to me,” she said. “I want to go.” I told her, “I love you dearly and wish to marry you.” “I want to go to my father,” she said. “You shall not go,” I answered.

“‘Her sisters flew away, and I took her home. My father married us. He told me, “Do not give her these garments. Hide them well. If she finds them, she will fly away to her own home.” I dug a hole in the ground and buried them.

“‘One day, when I had gone out for a walk, she dug them up, put them on, and flew up to the roof. She said to her slave, “When your master comes, tell him I have gone home. If he loves me, let him follow me.” Then she flew away.

“‘When I returned, I was told, “Your wife has gone back to her own home.” I wandered for many years in search of her. At last, when I drew near her city, I met some people who asked, “Who are you?” “I am Jani Shah,” I told them. “Whose son?” “The son of Taighamusi.” They asked, “Are you the one who married our lady?” “Who is your lady?” I asked. “Seyedati Shemsi,” they replied. “I am,” I told them, and my heart filled with joy. They took me into their city. She said to her father, “This is my husband, who married me.” I was greatly loved there and stayed for many days.

“‘Her father told me, “Take your wife with you if you wish to go home.” We were given jinn to carry us, and they brought us there in three days. We arrived and stayed a year. Then I said, “Let us go and see our father.” My wife agreed. When we reached this place, she went to bathe. When she was brought out, she was dead, and I buried her here. The jinn went to tell her father, “Your daughter is dead.” He said, “Go and summon Jani Shah. Let him come and marry this other daughter.” They came and told me, but I said, “I do not wish to. I shall dig a second grave, so that when I die I may be laid in it.” That is my story.’

“He remained there until he died. Bolukia went on his way and died upon the road.” The Sultan of the Snakes then said to Hassibu, “And you too, if you return home, will do me harm.” “I shall not harm you,” Hassibu replied. “Take me home.” “I know that if I take you home, you will return and kill me.” “I would never dare,” Hassibu told him. “Give me an oath to swear.” The Sultan gave him attendants to take him home, and told him, “When you reach home, do not go to bathe where many people gather.” “I shall not,” Hassibu replied. They took him home, and when they arrived, the attendants bade him farewell and returned. Hassibu went to his mother, who was overjoyed.

Now the Sultan of their city was very ill, and the only cure was to find the Sultan of the Snakes, kill him, and boil his flesh. The vizier stationed men in the bathhouse and told them, “If a man comes to bathe who has a mark on his belly, seize him.”

After three days at home, Hassibu forgot the words of his friend the Sultan of the Snakes and went to bathe. The soldiers seized him and took him to the vizier. “Take us to the place where the Sultan of the Snakes lives,” the vizier said. “I do not know it,” Hassibu replied. “Bind him,” the vizier ordered. They bound him and beat him savagely, until the flesh of his back was torn open. Then he said, “Untie me, and I shall take you there.”

They set off together. When they arrived, the Sultan of the Snakes said to him, “Did I not tell you that you would come to kill me?” “It is not my doing,” Hassibu replied. “Look at my back.” “Who beat you like this?” he asked. “The vizier,” Hassibu told him. “Then my death is certain,” said the Sultan of the Snakes. “But you yourself must carry me all the way to your home.” Hassibu carried him, and the soldiers set off back with them, the vizier among them.

On the way, his friend told him, “When I arrive, I shall be killed and my flesh cooked. The vizier will tell you to drink the first froth that rises, but do not drink it. Put it in a bottle and keep it for him. Drink the second yourself, and you will become a great physician. The third is the medicine for your Sultan. When the vizier comes and asks, ‘Have you drunk the first?’ tell him, ‘I have drunk it, and this second portion is yours.’ The vizier will take it, and when he has drunk it, he will die. Then you will be free of your troubles.”

They went on until they reached the city, and Hassibu did exactly as his friend had instructed him. The vizier drank and died. Hassibu drank the second portion himself, and with the third he treated the Sultan, who recovered.

The Sultan grew very fond of him. Hassibu became a great physician in the city, and lived in comfort and good health to the end of his days.