Introduction - Page 2

daughter,
who was his delight and pride, Scheherazade said to him, "Father, I
have a favour to ask of you. Will you grant it to me?"

"I can refuse you nothing," replied he, "that is just and reasonable."

"Then listen," said Scheherazade. "I am determined to stop this
barbarous practice of the Sultan's, and to deliver the girls
and mothers from the awful fate that hangs over them."

"It would be an excellent thing to do," returned the grand-vizir,
"but how do you propose to accomplish it?"

"My father," answered Scheherazade, "it is you who have to provide
the Sultan daily with a fresh wife, and I implore you, by all
the affection you bear me, to allow the honour to fall upon me."

"Have you lost your senses?" cried the grand-vizir, starting back
in horror. "What has put such a thing into your head? You ought
to know by this time what it means to be the sultan's bride!"

"Yes, my father, I know it well," replied she, "and I am not afraid
to think of it. If I fail, my death will be a glorious one,
and if I succeed I shall have done a great service to my country."

"It is of no use," said the grand-vizir, "I shall never consent.
If the Sultan was to order me to plunge a dagger in your heart,
I should have to obey. What a task for a father! Ah, if you do not
fear death, fear at any rate the anguish you would cause me."

"Once again, my father," said Scheherazade, "will you grant me
what I ask?"

"What, are you still so obstinate?" exclaimed the grand-vizir. "Why
are you so resolved upon your own ruin?"

But the maiden absolutely refused to attend to her father's words,
and at length, in despair, the grand-vizir was obliged to give way,
and went sadly to the palace to tell the Sultan that the following
evening he would bring him Scheherazade.

The Sultan received this news with the greatest astonishment.

"How have you made up your mind," he asked, "to sacrifice your own
daughter to me?"

"Sire," answered the grand-vizir, "it is her own wish. Even the sad
fate that awaits her could not hold her back."

"Let there be no mistake, vizir," said the Sultan. "Remember you
will have to take her life yourself. If you refuse, I swear
that your head shall pay forfeit."

"Sire," returned the vizir. "Whatever the cost, I will obey you.
Though a father, I am also your subject." So the Sultan told the
grand-vizir he might bring his daughter as soon as he liked.

The vizir took back this news to Scheherazade, who received
it as if it had been the most pleasant thing in the world.
She thanked her father warmly for yielding to her wishes, and,
seeing him still bowed down with grief, told him that she hoped
he would never repent having