Library / Literature & Fiction

The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 02 (of 10)
by Richard Francis, Sir, 1821-1890 [Translator] Burton
- Pages
- about 75
- Category
- Literature & Fiction
- Language
- English
- Reading time
- 83 min at 250 wpm
From the opening
[FN#1] Supplementarily to note 2, p. 2, [FN#2 Vol 1]and note 2, p. 14, [FN#21
Vol 1] vol. i., I may add that "Shahrázád," in the Shams al-Loghat, is the P.N.
of a King. L. Langlès (Les Voyages de Sindibâd Le Marin et La Ruse des Femmes,
first appended to Savary's Grammar and reprinted 12mo. pp. 161 + 113,
Imprimerie Royale, Paris, M.D.CCC.XIV) explains it by Le cyprès, la beauté de
la ville; and he is followed by (A. de Biberstein) Kazimirski (Enis el-Djelis
Paris, Barrois, 1847). Ouseley (Orient. Collect.) makes Shahrzád=town-born; and
others an Arabisation of Chehr-ázád (free of face, ingenuous of countenance)
the petit nom of Queen Humay, for whom see the Terminal Essay. The name of the
sister, whom the Fihrist converts into a Kahramánah, or nurse, vulgarly written
Dínár-zád, would= child of gold pieces, freed by gold pieces, or one who has no
need of gold pieces: Dínzád=child of faith and Daynázád, proposed by Langlès,
"free from debt (!)" I have adopted Macnaghten's Dunyazad. "Shahryar," which
Scott hideously writes "Shier-ear," is translated by the Shams, King of the
world, absolute monarch and the court of Anushirwan while the Burhán-i-Káti'a
renders it a King of Kings, and P.N. of a town. Shahr-báz is also the P.N. of a
town in Samarcand.
[FN#2] Arab. "Malik," here used as in our story-books: "Pompey was a wise and
powerful King" says the Gesta Romanorum. This King is, as will appear, a Regent
or Governor under Harun al-Rashid. In the next tale he is Viceroy of Damascus,
where he is also called "Sultan."
The lance was his pen, and the hearts of his foes *
His paper, and dipped he in blood for ink;
Hence our sires entitled the spear Khattíyah, *
Meaning that withal man shall write, I think.
The pun is in "Khattíyah" which may mean a writer (feminine) and also a spear,
from Khatt-Hajar, a tract in the province Al-Bahrayn (Persian Gulf), and Oman,
where the best Indian bamboos were landed and fashioned into lances.
A short sample. Read the whole book
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