V.
THE RICH PERSIAN AND THE STATUE.
There was once a rich Persian, named Bolamah, whose father had left himin possession of such vast amounts of treasure that he exceeded even thegreatest Princes of the country in wealth. Bolamah had a splendidpalace, full of all that could delight the senses, and furnish food forthe mind; such statuary and rich paintings was never before seen; suchmagnificent gardens, grottoes and fountains; beside this, he wasexceedingly handsome in person and accomplished in mind and manners. Ofcourse, he was surrounded by flatterers, who paid court to him, because,in return, he heaped benefits upon them, and, so accustomed was he topraise, that insensibly it became necessary to his happiness, and thosewho were most fulsome in their adulation were the surest of gaining hisfavor.
He had, however, one true friend, who esteemed Bolamah next to himself;and if any make profession of greater friendship than that, we ought tosuspect their sincerity. This friend, called Cobez, was poor but honest,and much attached to Bolamah, who was fond of him also. For a long timeafter his father’s death, Bolamah found plenty of employment inperfecting and adorning his palace, and Cobez was always appointed tooversee the execution of the plans that the fine taste of his patronsuggested. By their joint efforts the palace of Bolamah was so noted forits elegance that many came from afar to see it, and were enchanted, anddid homage to the fortunate owner, who was the proudest of men. When hereached his thirtieth year he felt that his happiness would be morecomplete if he had a wife, to be with him constantly, and to share thegrandeur and luxury that surrounded him. He opened, as usual, his mindto Cobez, and promised to bestow on him a magnificent reward, if hewould procure him a suitable companion. Cobez readily enough acceptedthe commission, first revolving in his mind what sort of woman would bemost likely to please Bolamah. In regard to her beauty, that matter wassettled at once--it was indispensable; and in Persia, where the womenhave a world-wide reputation for personal attractions, it was no hardmatter to find plenty which would charm the eye. “But,” thought he,“Bolamah, who is so learned and accomplished himself, will require thathis wife also, in the same manner, excel all others; and to find beautyand talent combined would be a difficult task.” Nevertheless, hedetermined to undertake it, and gain the reward if he was able, forCobez was in love, and would have asked no one to choose a wife for himwhile pretty little black-eyed Manilla lived with her old father, by theside of the same river that passed through the splendid grounds ofBolamah, yet did not disdain to make its gladdest music in rushing bytheir little cot, that stood in the humblest vale.
Cobez knew if he could gain the reward that Bolamah offered it wouldmake him rich as he desired for the rest of his life; he could thenmarry his little Manilla, and make sure that she was his own; and hefelt that he could never rest easy till this was done, for she was besetby all the neighboring swains; and, though she had given him her troth,he could not help feeling anxious and uneasy when others, richer thanhimself, were pressing their suits with such ardor. Cobez, therefore,sought earnestly to find out some woman to present to Bolamah, and onefine morning, setting out on a journey, he resolved not to come backtill he had accomplished his object. After having been gone for a longtime, and hearing of many whom he thought would be likely to please,but, on searching them out, finding himself always disappointed, he oneday heard of a very beautiful woman, of whose voice such wonders weretold that he determined to hear her for himself; accordingly hetravelled to the place where this singing bird (whose name was Natinga),resided. He found her with a crowd about her, who were listeningbreathlessly while she poured forth from her swelling throat such amelody that poor Cobez sat down overpowered and listened, forgettingfor the time his errand, Bolamah, Manilla, everything, so completely washis soul ravished from him. When she had ceased he recovered himselfenough to perceive that she was as finely formed and handsome a woman asone could wish to see, and he felt sure, if Bolamah could only hear hersing, he would marry her at once, and thus have her where he couldalways be listening to the music of her voice.
He found no great trouble in persuading Natinga to go with him. She waspoor, and, like her sex, fond of luxury and splendor, and Cobez had notbeen behindhand in picturing the brilliant future that lay before her,if she would leave her home and follow him. She bade adieu to herparents and friends, and set off with Cobez, but in parting feltsorrowful enough, as she remembered how proud they all had been of her;but when, after three days, she came in sight of a stately palace, andCobez told her that, in all probability, it would be her future home,she banished her regrets, and bore herself through the gateway, on hercamel, with as proud an air as a queen about to receive the homage ofher subjects. Bolamah met them at the door, and conducted them to theapartments that he had appropriated to the use of his future wife.“Here,” thought Natinga, “one can but be happy.” And no wonder shethought so, for everything a woman could fancy or desire was there; thesoftest carpets, in which the feet sank as into mossy turf; couches ofvelvet and down; fountains, with gay birds dipping their tiny beaks intothe spray; flowers, whose odors almost palled on the senses by theirrichness. Poor Natinga was at first bewildered, and Cobez feared shewould not be collected enough to do her best before Bolamah at night,which he had appointed as the time when he should first listen to hermusic. But at evening, seated on a balcony overlooking a scene ofbeauty, made visible by the moonlight, she was so excited and inspiredthat she poured forth, as if from her very soul, such notes as Cobez hadnever heard from her before. Bolamah, completely ravished, declaredpassionately that this was the woman of all others to be his chosencompanion; and the hearts of the three that evening were full of joy:Bolamah, at having such a lovely and accomplished being for his bride,Natinga, with her new-found splendor, and Cobez, that he had gained thereward that was to do so much for him. Bolamah was so proud of Natingaand her genius that he sent invitations to all the wealthy gentlemen ofdistinction, with their families, to come to a great feast that he waspreparing, and which was to last for a whole month, and terminate withhis marriage. He caused a sort of throne to be erected for himself andNatinga at the end of a splendid hall, or court, where, with a harp ofgold in her hand, she performed and sang before the assembly, who werein raptures. Their applause at first pleased Bolamah, but he soon foundthat he was cast into the shade by the superiority of Natinga; that whenhe took the harp his own performance did not please even himself, andonly called forth such meager applause as the politeness of his guestsforced from them. And, day by day, as they became more charmed withNatinga’s music, and poured forth the flattery at her shrine that he hadbeen wont to receive himself, he grew more disquieted, and laid theconsequences of his own vanity to the account of poor Natinga. He beganto fancy that her music was harsh and discordant, that it grated uponhis ear, and he grew sullen and ill-humored towards her, while she, poorthing, never imagining the cause of his unhappiness, went on trying toplease him by even outdoing herself, which, of course, only rendered herthe more odious to him.
At last his distaste became so evident that Cobez perceived somethingwas wrong, and shortly after, Bolamah told him that he must take her outof his sight, and endeavor to procure for him a wife whose tastes shouldbetter accord with his own. Cobez was very sorry to hear this, indeedmuch more grieved than Natinga herself, when she came to be told of it,for her life had latterly been made so unpleasant, by Bolamah’sharshness, she was only too glad to be permitted to go back again to thekind friends who had been so proud of her, more especially so, asBolamah in his anxiety to get rid of her, had to make amends to her forher disappointment, by loading her with valuable presents, andgraciously bidding her farewell.
Cobez conducted her again to her native place, where the whole town,when they heard that she was returning to them, came out to receive her,and carried her triumphantly to her own little home--to her parents,where her song was soon heard “ringing up the sky,” as would a wildbird’s, who had been confined in a golden cage, when it felt itselffree, and again in the little nest of it
s infancy.
While Cobez was rather sadly returning, leading the gaily housed animalwhich had borne Natinga to her home, all his fine schemes having fallento the ground by this sudden change in the mind of Bolamah, he sawbefore him a company of ladies and gentlemen to whom he wished to joinhimself, as the road was infested with robbers, who were apt to molestsingle travellers; he rode up, and asked to go along with them, to whichthey gladly gave their consent. He found that they were going to lookat some paintings in a town not far off, which were said to be the mostbeautiful in the world. Cobez resolved to go with them, and secure thechoicest for Bolamah’s palace. They entered a gallery where they were onexhibition, and Cobez felt sure that they surpassed anything that he hadever seen, although he had made a collection in the palace of all thatwere the most celebrated; and on asking to see the artist, he was verymuch astonished when a female presented herself, a lovely woman, with apure Grecian face and form, mild brown eyes and hair, whose smoothbraids were folded classically around her forehead. Krayona had agentleness of manner, that indicated a pliable disposition. Cobezinstantly said to himself, What if I should induce this lady toaccompany me home; Bolamah, who paints so well himself, would surelyenjoy having his wife in possession of the same talent. Dear me, were Ilike Bolamah, able to marry, I should not be so long in making a choice;but such a poor ignorant thing as Manilla would not suit Bolamah. Shecannot sing or paint, or do anything clever, but her laugh is musicenough for me, and her little fingers twirl the thread she spins soprettily, and her small feet go dancing along with such a gracefullightness, that she is more charming to me than the most accomplishedlady in the land. But if I do not succeed in getting the reward, whatwill all her prettiness avail me; I shall be too poor to marry her; soat a venture I will take Krayona, and see if she will not please Bolamahbetter than Natinga has done. Krayona did not refuse the honor ofbecoming a candidate, as the wife of the wealthiest gentleman in Persia,when Cobez represented to her that he was in favor of her accompanyinghim. So one morning saw her on the camel, that had borne Natinga in acontrary direction, and with her choicest paintings in a caravan behind,journeying over a delightful country, toward the palace of Bolamah. Theyreached it as sunset was gilding its walls with its gorgeous floods oflight. They entered the palace quietly, and Krayona, without beingannounced, was conducted by Cobez to his own apartments, and the nextday, when he and Bolamah were alone together, he told him of Krayona,and caused the finest of her works to be shown to him, which Bolamah soadmired that he greatly desired to see the artist. Her modest addressand mild beauty so charmed him, that he directly desired that she shouldbe made mistress of the apartments that Natinga had formerly occupied,and have free access to his galleries of painting and statuary, togratify her favorite tastes. She was almost beside herself in the midstof these works of art, and with Bolamah, spent most of her time there,copying from the old masters, or out amid the beautiful works of nature,sketching beside him. Now, Cobez thought his patron would be satisfied,and all would go well again; but he found that it was not so. Bolamahhad caused Krayona’s paintings to be hung beside his own, and on firstseeing them together, was excessively mortified, to behold what a sorryappearance his own made beside them; and when he saw that all eyes,after glancing at his, instantly returned to those of Krayona, he beganto be as jealous of her as he before had been of Natinga, and to wishher as heartily out of his sight. Krayona was too much occupied with herart to notice the change in Bolamah; but Cobez, who watched him closely,soon detected it, and made up his mind that as Bolamah was so fickle, itwould be almost impossible to fix him in his choice, and he felt nosurprise when Bolamah instructed him to make presents to Krayona, as hehad done to Natinga, and convey her away in the same manner. All whichhe did; and Krayona, without a word of complaint, left her grandeur, andreturned to her former station, happy and contented.
Now about this time, travelers from the eastern part of Persia camethrough the country where Bolamah dwelt, and gave their testimony to thegenius of a bright star in poetry that had arisen in that land; her famewas so noised abroad as to rivet the ears of Cobez and Bolamah, who,from time to time conversed upon the various reports of her that came tothem, and at last, so much was he interested, Cobez was directed to findher out, and if possible, to bring her to the palace. After muchseeking, he obtained an entrance into her presence, where she wassurrounded with auditors, before whom she was reciting her stanzas. Hethought her a glorious creature, with her black hair streaming wildly,and her eyes of fire, her low broad brow, and cheek pale, excepting asit was lit by the flash of genius. She needed the most glowingdescriptions from Cobez of Bolamah’s riches and power, to induce her toconsent to go with him; but he succeeded at last; and after a journey,the most trying to Cobez, they came to a point where a cavalcade, sentout by Bolamah, to welcome his chosen bride to her home, was waiting tomeet them. Bolamah himself came many miles in state, to receive one sodistinguished, and they conducted her with ceremony into the palace,where everything had been put in order to welcome her. It took herseveral days to recover the fatigues of her journey, and all the whileBolamah was waiting impatiently to converse with her, and to hear herpoetry. At last she gave out that she would meet him with his friendsin the great hall, and recite to him her poetry. In the evening she wasinducted into the seat that Natinga had occupied, when she sang beforethem, and with Bolamah beside her, she commenced a wild rhapsody, thenswelling to a lofty strain, she told of the battle raging high, till thewarriors would place their hands upon their swords, and breathe forthfire; then her voice and words would soothe, till they sank back andlistened, while she poured a tale of love; then she would melt them totears with her pathetic lay, till they hushed their very breaths to hearher. Bolamah was at first carried along with the tide, and praised andadmired as well as others; but the next day, alone with Hersala, when hecommenced repeating to her some of his own poetry, he found first thatshe was yawning wearily, and then, that she was fast asleep. Hediscovered, too, that one who had been so constantly flattered asHersala, like himself, needed the excitement of praise, and that afterthese fits of inspiration, she was more than usually dull; that hertemper was not as mild as that of Natinga, or Krayona, and that thewild passion she expressed, sometimes moved her own bosom to a storm.
If he had been jealous of Natinga and Krayona, he might well be ofHersala, for she so wrought upon the minds of all, the very scullions inthe kitchen were repeating her words or singing her songs; and sogreatly was she adored, that a crowd followed her footsteps, andBolamah, of so much importance before, sank into insignificance besideher. He became at last so mad with jealousy, that he dismissed hersuddenly, and she, in a rage at his treatment, wrote verses on Bolamah,and placed his foibles in such a ludicrous light, that he was somortified at the time as to declare he would no more allow a female tobecome a candidate for the honor of being his wife, and that he wouldremain unmarried to the end of his days.
Cobez, who had been near getting into disgrace himself by his repeatedfailures, began now to have an inkling of the true state of the case. Henow understood that Bolamah would not be satisfied with a wife who wasconstantly casting him, her lord, into the shade by her superiority;that a companion, to please him, must be content to be his humbleadmirer, and that, if he ever obtained the reward, it must be by thegreatest caution and skillfulness on his own part. Now Cobez had anintimate friend called Meldon, a cunning sculptor, who carried his artto the highest degree of perfection. In his perplexity to Meldon Cobezwent, and told him all about Bolamah, and of his unsuccessful attemptsto satisfy him, and of his own desire to make Menilla his wife, and thenpromised him half the reward, if he would devise and assist him incarrying out some plan to fulfill his wishes. This Meldon consented todo, and on putting their heads together, concocted a scheme so much totheir satisfaction that they proceeded at once to execute it. Meldon sethimself to work, and made the perfect image of a woman; it was tall, andof the most symmetrical proportions. He moulded the features soperfectly, they had the
form and the very expression of life; the eyeswere of the darkest hazel, soft and varying in their light; the hair,silken, glossy, and black as the wing of a raven, fell over shoulders ofmarble whiteness, round and polished; her bosom was made to rise andfall with the breath that he breathed from his own lips into hers; herarms dazzled one to look upon them, and the taper fingers of the slenderhand were taught to move gracefully over the strings of a harp; herbrows were black, and arched like a bow, her lashes long and dark. Itcould move its limbs, and walk about with grace and dignity, unclose thelips, smile sweetly, and softly murmur, “Beautiful! Beautiful!” When itwas completed, they arrayed it in queenly robes. When Cobez saw itfinished, he was so delighted with the beautiful image, he was temptedto forget Menilla forever, and throw himself at its feet; but hepresently thought of the little warm heart that was beating beneath herbosom, and felt that she was ten times dearer to him than this stately,cold beauty. They gave the image the name of Fauna, and set to work toplan how to bring her to the notice of Bolamah. So they contrived atlast that Cobez should represent to him that a great lady had come fromfar to view his splendid palace; and having obtained Bolamah’s consentto its being exhibited to her by them, they timed their visit so well asto meet Bolamah at the door as they were alighting from their chariot.Bolamah, who had so long been distinguished for his high breeding, couldnot allow such a magnificent lady, like a queen in her mien and dress,to pass him without the ordinary expressions of politeness. He thereforereturned her graceful salutation, and gave her his arm, and with a stepas calm and measured as her own, traversed with her the walks andapartments of the grounds and of the palace. Everything met herapprobation. Did he show her his gardens, his paintings, or take up hislute and sing, still the sweet smile hovered around her mouth, and thewords, “Beautiful! Beautiful!” were murmured from her lips, till at lastBolamah, who could no longer resist her beauty, her grace, and, aboveall, her appreciation of himself, fell at her feet, telling her that sheof all should be the chosen one who was to share his palace and hisheart; and Fauna only drooped her proud head a little lower, and stillmurmured softly, “Beautiful! Beautiful!” till Bolamah was quite overcomewith her dignity and sweet compliance to his wishes. Cobez was intransports when he found his plan had worked so admirably. Fauna was nowthe constant and approved companion of Bolamah; he never was willing tohave her away from him a moment, and preparations for the marriage wereput forward with haste, to the great joy of Cobez, who was convincedthat Bolamah was now in earnest. At last all was in readiness, and themarriage took place, at which Fauna comported herself with such dignityas to win the approbation of Bolamah and the admiration of all thatlooked upon her; and when she was installed as mistress of the palace,her bearing toward the guests was so queenly, yet condescending, thateven the ladies, who are apt to be jealous of their own sex, declaredher the most fascinating woman in the universe.
So pleased was Bolamah with Fauna, that he doubled the reward that hehad offered to Cobez, because he had been the means of bringing to hisnotice one who was so charming, and of procuring him so much happiness.This money Cobez divided with his friend Meldon, through whose skill hehad been able to obtain it, and with part of their money they purchasedtwo cottages; and when Cobez had married Menilla, and had a family abouthim, Meldon was godfather to his children, and his favorite, calledafter him, bade fair to equal him in skill in the art which Meldonloved.
Cobez and Menilla lived very happily together--(not quite as calmly,perhaps, as Bolamah and his spouse, whose domestic peace was a proverbin the country); but when Menilla was a little capricious and wayward,Cobez only said to Meldon, “There, she shows her flesh and blood, andher warm heart,” and he never thought of envying Bolamah and Fauna inthe unvarying calmness of their life.