Night of a Thousand Wishes (Edens Den Book 1)

Night Has a Thousand Eyes

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Then I realized it was part of a series. The ending was pretty abrupt. I won't say that there was a huge cliffhanger, because that's not the case. I was just so wrapped-up in the story and the characters that I was shocked when it ended. But I think this novel was the perfect way to set up what I think might become one of my new favorite series.

I'm looking forward to getting some answers in the next book in this series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. View all 4 comments. Aug 23, Samantha rated it liked it.

I received this book from Itching for Books and the author Kate Cowan for review! This isn't so much of a review as it is a list of my questions. Right now I don't know what to think. I feel like this is a book is more of introduction then anything. It's like the author is like here's what's happening, and here is all that is going to need answered. So I'm reserving the right to change my rating later.

I feel that when the question's are answered I will I received this book from Itching for Books and the author Kate Cowan for review! I feel that when the question's are answered I will have more appreciation for the story. As of right now I gave this book three stars. I liked it,but it left me with too many question's! I can't wait to finish the next book and see what question's are answered; if any. In the beginning of the book Eden and Will are locked in a tower room for their "safety" or so we are told.

I'm still curious as to why her parent's turned out the way they did. Did they really blame her? Why were they doing that to them? I hope to get some more insight into this. It kind of reminded me of Flowers In The Attic. At first I expected Will to end up trying to jump her or something. He is a teenage boy and is locked up in room with a pretty girl. The only girl he ever get's to see. I was a little confused that didn't happen.

I guess it shows how deeply he cares about her. He didn't try to cross any boundaries. When they get to the Island it feels like completely different story. Will starts to pull away from her for reason's unknown. I really have to know why! I can see they love each other,and want them to be able to be together. At first everybody hates her because she was free longer then them,but they don't understand the nightmare she had to live through.

I feel because of her neglect it will be hard for her to ever let anybody, but Will truly in. Although she does make new friends who are pretty cool! Later on She starts to learn more about herself and starts to learn magic! Making her feel more alive and powerful! Then she slowly starts learning the horrors of the island. Now this is where it get's confusing. At one minute you think it's one thing, and then you find out something else, then there's more questions.

The biggest question's of all is why are these children taken? What are they doing on the island? What's going on with Tom and Will, and what are they doing to the kids who turn eighteen? Kate you are killing me!!! I want to know so much! I also want her and Will together! Oh also I want some insight into the outside world. For example when did the catcher's start taking kids?

How did the world react? Has anybody been trying to stop it? Is there anybody trying to find and help these kids?

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Did her parent's ever find out they were gone, and what did they think? Was there a war or something that made this all possible? This is a really good quick read! It will leave you with a lot of question's,but it's worth it! The review for Garden of Ashes will be posted tomorrow as part of the Garden of Ashes blog tour. Thanks to both Itching for Books and Kate Cowan for providing me a copy of this. I might not have read it otherwise and I'm glad I did! I might come back and update this after reading Garden Of Ashes.

Aug 28, Tiffany rated it liked it. So when the catchers finally catch up with her family she is horrified because she should have been among them, inside she went to the woods. Now her parents have her and Will a boy she met in the woods locked in an attic to keep them safe. Now she must prepare herself for what is to come and to do that she will need Adriane a fellow student and Liddon a man she met in the woods to help her.

As she sets out to find out what wrong with the island, she finds out there is more than meets the eye. The book started a little slow for me. Eden and will are in the basement and Eden explains how they ended up like they did. Which is ridiculous, they should have left once they said they were going to lock them up. They live up there for four years barely fed. Things start get interesting when they get captured. Will starts to get distant and goes out of his way to avoid her…what is up with that Will..

I was starting to like you. To take his place there is Tom, who has lived on the island his whole life. Oh and everyone at the school hates her because she has lived in the outside world. So my favorite part of the book is when she meets Liddon the mysterious man in the woods. I hope we find out more about him and his lady friend and most importantly about the island. It has me very intrigued.

A short read that is very intriguing and leaves you with more questions than answers. She would talk about getting out but never acted on it. When she gets to the islands things change. She knows that she is going to have to get stronger to survive and actually starts to shoe a little backbone, not much but some.

I was starting too really like him and then they get on the island and we barely get to see him. I want Eden to end op with him and not Tom. Now I really liked her. She is the toughest kid at the school and she knows it. Tom the guy all the girls want. He is an ok guy and I could tell by his description that he is hot, but he just seemed fake to me, like he is putting on an act. I think with time I may like him but that is yet to be seen.

Oct 02, Ivie Isler rated it really liked it Shelves: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. What made me want to read this book was the dystopian elements the blurb hinted at. Yes, it does have those elements, but there is fantasy, magic, mystery, and many more elements that I didn't even realize. Kate Cowan used these elements to create her own unique world based in our version of reality. I really like Will. I hated that he melted into the background when they came to the school.

I wonder if "Will" is his real name o I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I wonder if "Will" is his real name or if he gave Eden a false name. I have a feeling or I hope that Will is going to play a more prominent role in the second book. He seems like he could be a really strong character if given the chance. I also wonder if he knows Eden's secret. If Eden is destined for some cosmic role, then Will could have been strategically placed. Then again, I could be completely over analyzing his role in Eden's story. This story will make you hate Eden's parents.

I mean, what loving parents would really locks their kids up and has no interaction with them? Then to top it off, they leave for days at a time. I know that's their character flaw, but I'd like to know what really went through their minds. I do like how Eden transformed after she left the attic. She became a stronger character. I loved that she didn't play the victim. She took control of her actions and sought to improve herself. She stood up for those that couldn't stand up for themselves and is trying to help everyone on the island by discovering its big secret.

She's turning into a leader, and that makes her interesting. There are lots of secrets to uncover here. Readers don't know who to trust, especially since everyone seems to have a secret. I kept trying to decide who was "good" and who was "bad". Cowan does a good job of keeping readers guessing. This is the first book in Eden's tale. If you're expecting a full story, you're going to be disappointed. You find out only one of the many mysteries of the island. You will discover one secret that doesn't bode well for people.

You will definitely need to pick up the next book in the series to find out more because so many questions are left unanswered. Readers who enjoy a good mystery with magic should give Garden of Eden a try. Oct 06, Michelle rated it liked it Shelves: Garden of Eden is a quick, and mysterious read. It seemed almost like a prequel to the Legend of Eden series. It sets up everything, and still leaves tons of questions unanswered, and leaves you wanting to pick up the next book to find out what is going on on this mysterious island.

We have no idea why though. Eden escapes attack, but all of her siblings are taken and she is locked in the attic for her protection. But even though her parents say that they want to protect her, they are awful to her. They basically starve her and keep her as a prisoner. But a few chapters into the book, Eden sneaks outside with her only friend Will who conveniently showed up right when the rest of her family was taken by catchers and they both get captured and whisked off to this strange island in the middle of nowhere and forced to attend this school with a bunch of other kids who are captured.

Most of the book is Eden asking a bunch of questions and trying to figure out what was going on. That was my favorite part of the story. I loved how inquisitive Eden was. But I really admired how determined Eden was to figure out what was going on. I would have been totally freaked out, but Eden was fearless and she found a good group of friends that seemed like they would help her get some answers. The book ends on a pretty explosive note. There are still a tons of whys floating around in my head, but what they did find out seems so cool and unique!

I just need to read the next book to find out more of what is going on. I think the story will really come to life in the next book, because we ended in such a cool place. There is just so much that needs to happen in the next book! Nov 02, Romina rated it liked it.

A boy she hardly knew. Eden is unsure whether she is locked away to protect her from the catchers or if she is just too much of a painful reminder of the loss her parents have suffered. Determined not to be a prisoner for the rest of her life she escapes to the forest.

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Will is against the idea, he feels they should look for food and head home. The temptation of freedom proves to powerful for both. Unfortunately, The Catchers are not that far behind. Eden wakes to find herself on an island akin to Alcatraz.

Surrounded by hundreds of stolen children and enrolled into the school Eden is conflicted. Should she welcome this opportunity or fight? While making new friends and allies she begins to realise that all is not as it seems, the outcome could potentially cost and her new friends their lives.

This story has a great concept but found it lacking in pace. At times I was struggling to find the point to certain scenes. Leaving many unanswered questions. After the escape from the attic I was relieved to find that the story began to develop. Will and Eden are good strong characters and I would have loved to learn more about them, what I struggled with is their relationship. I loved the idea of a haven for children with a sinister side and this has potential to develop into a series full of fantasy and action but the scenes with the dead goats felt a little rushed and just thrown in for potential scare factor.

Copy Supplied For Review. Oct 02, Crina Reading Addict rated it really liked it. I received the book for a honest review and because I'm part of the tour! The synopsis made me to want reading it, and the cover, they looked and sounded really good. But I was a little afraid because it was another book with a school in it, and this is not too original. Plus is a short book and I was thinking how good would be. And I like that Eden, even is not the girl who always need help, neither is the hero, the one who beat them all.

She learns, in time, how to fight and, more, she learns then she has something. This book is good, not the best that I ever read but is interesting, light, fast read, with nice characters, a cute idea and I hope that the next one is more full of action and suspense. I mean, yes, that has too, but from the half. At the beginning is more like showing the past and life of the characters, how they get in the tower… and things are more calm. So, in the second book I hope to find more action and maybe the answers to my questions.

Or why Will is acting like that. Oct 12, Olivia Bookcomet rated it it was amazing Shelves: If you are going to read Garden of Eden, I would strongly advise making sure you are very, very comfortable and not in a hurry, because once you start, you won't be able to stop. I wanted to read just a little bit before going off and doing what I had to do. You see the problem was, it was fast paced from the first word. I was really not expecting to be so into the plot from so early on. It's not often that happens, so it's a thumbs up from me! Except no story would be complete without amazing characters.

The main character Eden was, without a doubt, my favourite.

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She was smart, modest, survival savvy and didn't give up. Basically, if I had written an outline for a character, Eden would pretty much fit it perfectly. Will was the one I had an issue with. I am kind of confused about him. The Will at the beginning is so different than the one at the end. I think I know why, but I am not certain enough to be sure. The whole school thing was cool. I am super curious to find out why they are, in fact, there. I guess we'll learn that when we discover more about the "Catchers". The cover is so pretty! I've never seen anything like it. Hats off to whoever designed it.

In the near future, Major Mila Killian is the first of her kind: A human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world's most dangerous criminals. Roland Deschain, has been locked in an eternal battle with Walter O'Dim, also known as the Man in Black, and determined to prevent him from toppling the Dark Tower that holds the universe together. With the fate of the world at stake, good and evil will collide in the ultimate battle, as only Roland can defend the Tower from the Man in Black.

An undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents. An ancient Egyptian princess is awakened from her crypt beneath the desert, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia, and terrors that defy human comprehension.

After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. A team of scientists explore an uncharted island in the Pacific, venturing into the domain of the mighty Kong, and must fight to escape a primal Eden. When their headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage, the Kingsman's journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organization in the United States. These two elite secret organizations must band together to defeat a common enemy. The crew of the USS Enterprise explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a new ruthless enemy, who puts them, and everything the Federation stands for, to the test.

The world's top bodyguard gets a new client, a hitman who must testify at the International Criminal Court. They must put their differences aside and work together to make it to the trial on time. Peace is granted by a human force, including Major Valerian and his partner Sergeant Laureline. They are assigned by the Defence Minister to retrieve the last species of converter in a dangerous mission. They succeed and back to Alpha, unknown humanoids abduct Commander Arun Filitt expecting to steal the converter.

They head to a forbidden area that is infected but Valerian and Laureline follow them and disclose a hidden secret about the race and the infected area. As always Luc Besson makes a visual outstanding movie. The effects are like the best sci fi flicks and for that alone the movie is worth watching. The story might not be the best, but what really is negative about this space adventure is the casting, especially the lead characters. Who really believe Valerian is a man hero, a military major when he looks like a 50kg high school boy?

I know I dont. And there are other characters who are really misplaced and dont seem to know the art of acting at all. You just dont believe in them. I would say Luc Besson had all his directing skills focused on the effects of the film, and left the bad actors to do what they pleased without any focus on making the characters believable. I hope I'll never see Dane DeHaan act ever again.. The reason for me giving 7 stars is because of the visual universe Luc Besson created, it's really great.

If you dont care about bad casting and bad acting this film is entertaining and well made. Enjoy a night in with these popular movies available to stream now with Prime Video. One day of the days, behold an aged woman which had been her nurse came in to her and saw her in excessive sorrow and perplext as to her affair for that she knew not what she could do with her stepson.

Presently they loaded up and the youth, having farewelled his father and his friends and his familiars, set forth seeking the country of Fatimah bint Amir, and he travelled for the first day and the second day until he found himself in the middle of the wilds and the Wadys, and the mountains and the stony wastes. Her father hath three tasks which he proposeth to every suitor, nor owneth any the power to accomplish a single one, and he conditioneth that if any fail to fulfil them and avail not so to do, he shall be slain. But I, O my son, will inform thee of the three which be these: First the King will bring together an ardabb of sesame grain and an ardabb of clover-seed and an ardabb of lentils; and he will mingle them one with other, and he will say: And as all have failed in the attempt their heads were struck off next morning and were hung up over the Palace gateway.

Now the second task is this: Now here is sufficient to engross thine intellect, O my son, but take thou no heed and I will do thy task for thee. Then he entered upon a Wady wherein flights of locusts barred the passage, so he scattered for them somewhat of fine flour which they picked up till they had eaten their sufficiency. Then he fared forwards till he came to the middle of the mountain, where he was opposed by none, or mankind or Jinn-kind, and he ceased not marching until he drew near the city of the Sultan whose daughter he sought to wife.

Here he set up a tent and sat therein seeking repose for a term of three days; then he arose and walked forwards until he entered the city, where he fell to looking about him leftwards and rightwards till he had reached the palace [FN 7] of the King. I came to thee seeking connexion with thee through thy daughter the lady concealed and the pearl unrevealed. Anon he arose and going forwards attempted of himself to separate the various sorts of grain, but he failed; and had two hundred thousand thousands of men been gathered together for the work they had on nowise availed to it.

And after this they all went their ways. Hereupon the Sultan was amazed and his wits were bewildered and he was certified that none had power to win his daughter for wife save that youth. Whatever I bid him do he beginneth with naming the name of the Lord whereas those who forewent him never suffered me hear aught of the sort. This is the fine of thy three labours which an thou avail to accomplish thou shalt attain thine aim and if thou fail thereof I will smite thy neck. Such be then my last word. Then the married couple abode with the King their father for the space of a month, and all this time the camp of the young Prince remained pitched without the town, and every day he would send to his pages and eunuchs whatso they needed of meat and drink.

Here suddenly men met him upon the road and as he asked them the tidings they replied that his sire was besieged within his capital of Sind by a neighbour King who had attacked him and determined to dethrone him and make himself Sovereign and Sultan in his stead. Hereupon the Prince pitched his camp and prepared himself for fight and fray; and a many of his men rode with him whilst another many remained on guard at the tents.

So she smote the ancient who bore the banner and cast him to the ground and then she made for the King and charged down upon him and struck him with the side of the sword a blow so sore that of his affright he fell from his steed. But when his host saw him unhorsed and prostrate upon the plain they sought safety in flight and escape, deeming him to be dead; whereupon she alighted and pinioned his elbows behind his back and tied his forearms to his side, and lashed him on to his charger and bound him in bonds like a captive vile.

After this she sat down expecting the Prince who, when she had committed to him the captured King, carried him into the city where he found the gates thrown open. It is stated that of olden times and by-gone there dwelt in the land of Syria two men which were brothers and whereof one was wealthy and the other was needy. Now the rich man had a love-some daughter and a lovely, whilst the poor man had a son who gave his heart to his cousin as soon as his age had reached his tenth year. But at that time his father the pauper died and he was left an orphan without aught of the goods of this world; the damsel his cousin, however, loved him with exceeding love and ever and anon would send him somewhat of dirhams and this continued until both of them attained their fourteenth years.

Then the youth was minded to marry the daughter of his uncle, so he sent a party of friends to her home by way of urging his claim that the father might wed her to him, but the man them and they returned disappointed. However, when it was the second day a body of warm men and wealthy came to ask for the maid in marriage, and they conditioned the needful conditions and stood agreed upon the nuptials. Presently the tidings reached the damsel who took patience till the noon o' night, when she arose and sought the son of her uncle, bringing with her the sum of two thousand dinars which she had taken of her father's good and she knocked softly on at the door.

Hereupon the youth started from sleep and went forth and found his cousin who was leading a she-mule and an ass, so the twain bestrode either beast and travelled through the remnant of the night until the morning morrowed. Then they alighted to drink and to hide themselves in fear of being seen until the second night fell when they mounted and rode for two successive days, at the end of which they entered a town seated on the shore of the sea.

Here they found a ship equipped for voyage, so they repaired to the Ra'is and hired for themselves a sitting place; after which the cousin went forth to sell the ass and the she-mule, and disappeared for a short time. Meanwhile the ship had sailed with the daughter of his uncle and had left the youth upon the strand and ceased not sailing day after day for the space of ten days, and lastly made the port she purposed and there cast anchor.

So he turned him inland sore dismayed. Now when the vessel anchored in that port quoth the damsel to the captain, "O Ra'is, [FN 19] hie thee ashore and bring for us a portion of flesh and fresh bread," and quoth he, "Hearkening and obedience," whereupon he betook himself to the town. But as soon as he was far from the vessel she arose and donning male's dress said to the sailors, "Do ye weigh anchor and set sail," and she shouted at them with the shouting of seamen.

Accordingly they did as she bade them and the wind being fair and the weather favourable, ere an hour had sped they passed beyond sight of land. Accordingly, he returned to the town unknowing whither he should wend and walked about like one blind and deaf for the loss of his craft. But as regards the vessel, she ceased not sailing with those within till she cast anchor near a city wherein was a King; and no sooner was she made fast than the damsel fell to scattering money amongst the crew and saying to them, "Hearten your hearts and be no afraid on any wise! So they returned and reported this to the King who despatched messengers bidding her lodge with him for they had heightened their praises of her and the excess of her comeliness, and he said in his mind, "By Allah, an she prove as they describe her, needs must I marry her.

Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable! Dunyazad said to her, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, an thou be other than sleepy, finish for us thy tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night! But as soon as the maidens came she met them in her finest attire, none of the number being more beauteous than herself, and she salam'd to them and invited them into the cuddy [FN 21] where she bade food be served to them and they ate and were cheered and solaced, after which they sat down to converse till it was the middle of the night.

Now when sleep prevailed over the girls they retired to their several berths, and when they were drowned in slumber, the damsel arose softly and arousing the crew bade them leave their moorings and shake out their canvas; not did daylight dawn to them ere they had covered a far distance. As soon as the maidens awoke they saw themselves on board a ship amid the billows of the main, and as they asked the Captainess she answered, "Fear not for yourselves or for the voyage you are making;" [FN 22] and she gentled them and solaced them until whatso was in their hearts was allayed.

However, touching the affair of the King, when morrowed the morn he sent to the ship with an order for the damsel to land with the forty virgins, but they found not the craft and they returned and reported the same to their lord, who cried, "By Allah, this be the discreetest of deed which none other save she could have done. And as regards the vessel carrying the virgins, she ceased not sailing until she made port beside a ruined city wherein none was inhabitant, and here the crew cast anchor and furled their sails when behold, a gang of forty pirate [FN 23] men, ever ready to cut the highway and their friends to betray, boarded them, crying in high glee, "Let us slay all in her and carry off whatso we find.

Then the damsel and those with her tucked up their sleeves ad hung up their chauldrons [FN 24] and cooked the meat after the delicatest fashion, and when it was thoroughly done and prepared, they spread the trays and the pirates came forward one and all, and ate and washed their hands and they were in high spirits each and every, saying, "This night I will take to me a girl. Hereupon the damsel arose without loss of time and taking in her hand a sharp-grided sword fell to cutting off their heads and casting them into the sea until she came to the Shaykh of the Pirates and in his case she was satisfied with shaving his beard and tearing out his eye-teeth and bidding the crew to cast him ashore.

They did as she commanded, after which she conveyed the property of all the caitiffs and having distributed the booty amongst the sailors, bade them weigh anchor and shake out their canvas. On this wide they left that ruined city until they had made the middle of the main and they fared for a number of days athwart the billowy deep nor could they hit upon their course amongst the courses of the sea until Destiny cast them beside a city.

They made fast to the anchorage-ground, and the damsel arose and donning Mameluke's dress and arraying the Forty Virgins in the same attire all walked together and paced about the shore and they were like garden blooms. When they entered the streets they found all the folk a-sorrowing, so they asked one of them and he answered, "The Sultan who over-reigneth this city is dead and the reign lacketh rule.

They drove him away, crying, "Oh rare! Hereupon she fell to ordering the Forty Virgins who were still habited as Mamelukes and they served the Sultan for a while of time till one day of the days when the Wazir came to the presence and said, "O King of the Age, I have a daughter, a model of beauty and loveliness, and I am desirous of wedding her with the Sovran because one such as thou should not remain in single blessedness. When dawned the day, the Wazir's wife which was the mother of the maiden cam to look upon her daughter and asked her of her case, and the bride answered, "All the livelong night hath he passed in orisons, nor came he near me even once.

After this the Sultan ruled for a while of time, but she was ever deep in though concerning what device could be devised in order to obtain tidings of her father and her cousin and what had wrought with them the changes of times and tides. Then she ordered them set the image over the Hammam-door, so they placed it there, and after she issued a firman and caused it to be cried through the city that whoso should enter that Bath to bathe and drink coffee, should do so free and gratis and for naught.

When this was done, the tongues of the folks were loosened with benison, and they fell to praying for the Sultan and the endurance of his glory, and the permanence of his governance till such time as the bruit was spread abroad by the caravans and travellers, and the folk of all regions has heard of the Hammam and the coffee-house. Meanwhile the Sultan had summoned two eunuchs and ordered them and repeatedly enjoined them that whoso might approach the statue and consider it straitly him they should seize and bring before the presence.

Accordingly, the slaves fared forth and took their seats before the Baths. After a while of time the father of the damsel who had become Sultan wandered forth to seek her, [FN 34] and arrived at that city, where he heard that whoso entered the Hammam to bathe and afterwards drank coffee did this without cost; so he said in his min, "Let me go thither to enter, when behold, he looked at the statue over the gateway, and he stood still and considered it with the tears flowing adown his cheeks, and he cried, "Indeed this figure be like her!

The next that appeared was the son of her uncle, who also had wandered as far as that city seeking his cousin, and he also having heard the folk speaking anent a free entrance to the Baths, said in himself, "Do thou get thee like others to that Hammam and solace thyself. So she bade prepare a place for him and appointed to him rations for the time being. Then also came the Ra'is of the ship, who had reached that city seeking his lost vessel, and when the fame of the free Hammam came to his ears, he said in his mind, "Go thou to the Baths and solace thyself.

Anon the King and the Wazir, who were responsible for the Forty Virgins came to that city--And Sharazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased to say her permitted say. Verily this Mameluke is like my child as like can be. Lastly appeared the Pirate which had been Shaykh and the comrade of the Forty Thieves also seeking that city, and albeit he was aweary and perplext yet he ceased not to wander that he might come upon the damsel who had slain his associates and who had shaved his beard and had torn out his eye-teeth.

He also when he heard of the Hammam without charge and the free coffee-house said in himself, "Hie thee to that place! And they imprisoned him for he had not come to that city save for the shortening of his days and the lavishing of his life-blood and he knew not what was predestined to him and in very sooth he deserved all that befel him. Hereupon the damsel bade bring before her, her father and her cousin and the Ra'is and the King and the Wazir and the Pirate while she still bore herself as one who administered the Sultanate , and when it became night time all began to converse one with other and presently quoth she to them, "O folk, let each and every who hath a tale solace us with telling it.

But when the poor man died he left only a boy who sought to marry the girl his cousin: Presently there came a party of substantial merchants who demanded her in wedlock and obtained her and agreed upon the conditions; when her sire was minded to marry her to their man. This was hard upon the damsel and sore grievous to her so she said, 'By Allah, I will mate with none save my uncle's son. Then, as she related the history concerning the King and the Wazir, they said, "By Allah, this indeed is a sweet story and full of light and leading and our lord the Sultan deserveth for this recital whatso he may require.

Next she restored to the Ra'is his ship and freighted it with her good and he set forth in it on his return voyage. But as regards the Pirate she commanded her attendants to kindle for him a furious fire and they lit it till it roared and the sparks flew high in air, after which they pinioned him and cast him into the flames, where his flesh was melted before his bones. After this she committed to him the Sultanate and he became a Sovran and Sultan in her stead, and she bade fetch her mother to that city where her cousin governed and where her father-in-law the Wazir was chief Councillor of the realm.

On this wise it endured for the length of their lives, and fair to them were the term and the tide and the age of the time, and they led of lives the joyfullest and a livelihood of the perfectest until they were consumed by the world and died out generation of the generation. And behold, there came to him a man young in years and ragged of raiment and of case debased and there was none of blossom upon his cheeks and the World had changed his cuticle and Need had altered his complexion.

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Presently he salam'd and deprecated and was eloquent in his salutation to the Governor who returned his greeting and looking at him asked, "Who are thou, O young man, and what hast thou to say and what is thine excuse for pushing into the assembly of the Kings even as if, O youth, thou hadst been an invited guest? By Allah, ho thou the Emir, there is naught but that thou accept our impenetration in the matter of this Youth, for he is on no wise deserving of death.

Who art thou that an Angel from Heaven should cry out to thee 'Kill him not,' for thou art the vilest and meanest of mankind nor hast thou power to find a path to my death. After which he said to him, "O young man, concerning the kid [FN 63] that is in the firmament, tell me be it male or female?

The young Sayyid replied, "O Hajjaj, draw me aside its tail so I may inform thee thereanent. But when Allah's behest cometh, everything shall be decided with truth; and then perish they who entreated it as a vain thing'; and the verset which speaketh of the Folk and the Fire is the word of Almighty Allah which saith [FN 76] 'O out Lord! Bring us forth from her the Fire , and, if we return to our sins , we shall indeed be of the evildoers'; and the verset that speaketh of the People of Paradise is the word of Almighty Allah, [FN 77] 'And they shall say: Laud to the Lord who abated to us grief, and verily our Lord is Gracious, Grateful'; and the verset which speaketh of Iblis whom Allah Almighty accurse!

I swear therefore by thy glory, that all of them will I surely lead astray. Never indeed saw I a youth like this youth upon whom the Almighty hath bestowed wits and wisdom and knowledge for all the tenderness of his age. But say me, who art thou, O young man? And do thou take to thee, O Hajjaj, the greater Salve.

Also have no connection with woman in the Hammam for its consequence is the palsy; nor do thou lie with her when thou art full or when thou art empty or when thou drunken with wine or when thou art in wrath nor when lying on thy side, for that it occasioneth swelling of the testicle-veins; [FN 86] or when thou art under a fruit-bearing tree. Avoid carnal knowledge of the old woman [FN 87] for that she taketh from thee and giveth not to thee.

Moreover let thy signet ring be made of carnelian [FN 88] because it is a guard against poverty; also a look at the Holy Volume every morning increaseth thy daily bread, and to gaze at flowing water whetteth the sight and to look upon the face of children is an act of adoration. And when thou chancest lose thy way, crave aidance of Allah from Satan the Stoned. So tell me somewhat concerning husbandry? Hereupon quoth Al-Hajjaj, "Thou hast said well and hast spoken fair, O young man; and now what canst thou declare concerning a maiden of ten years old?

She of fifty pray Allah be copious to her! Hereupon Al-Hajjaj laughed aloud and all who were with him in assembly; and presently he resumed, "O youth, tell me concerning the first man who spake in verse [FN 96] and that was our common sire, Adam The Peace be upon him! Hereat Al-Hajjaj asked, "O young man, what drove our ancestor to poetry? Then cried Al-Hajjaj, "Thou hast said well and hast spoken fair, O young man; and thy due is incumbent upon us for that thou hast drowned us in the deeps of thy wisdom. Now the damsel was standing by the young Sayyid, and she winked at him with her eye as one saying, "Do thou choose me and leave all the rest;" whereupon he began to improvise the following couplets,.

Hearing these words Al-Hajjaj exclaimed, "Woe to thee, O damsel, dost thou answer him in his verse? Then the youth took all the presents and fared forth by the passage which had been shown him, and went his ways and was seen no more. Hereupon the Grandees of the kingdom said to Al-Hajjaj, "O our lord, how hast thou given to him these gifts and he hath on nowise thanked thee, nor wished thee well [FN ] for they favours, and yet hast thou pointed out to him the Gate of Salvation?

The Commander of the Faithful seeing him bade him be seated and said, "O Ibn Mansur, I would have thee tell me a tale somewhat rare and strange; so perchance my breast may be broadened and my doleful dumps from me depart. Allah lengthen thy life, and make permanent thy prosperity. Then thou wilt command his head to be cut off and what was meant for pleasure may end in displeasure and wrath and wrongdoing.

Presently they sallied forth by the private postern and walked from place to place till they came to one of the highways of the capital and after threading its length they arrived at a narrow street whose like was never seen about all the horizons. The King Harun al-Rashid and the Wazir and the Eunuch stood marvelling at what they saw of these signs and at what they smelt of the scents breathing from the clarity [FN ] of this palace as though they were the waftings of the perfumed gardens of Paradise and they cast curious glances at the abode so lofty and of base so goodly and of corners so sturdy, whose like was never builded in those days.

Presently they noted that its entrance was poikilate with carvings manifold and arabesques of glittering gold and over it was a line writ in letters of lapis lazuli. So Al-Rashid took seat under the candelabrum with Ja'afar standing on his right and Masrur afoot to his left and he exclaimed, "O Wazir, this mansion is naught save in the utmost perfection of beauty and degree; and verily its lord must have expended upon it wealth galore and of gold a store; and, as its exterior is magnificent exceedingly, so would to Heaven I knew what be its interior.

Hereupon quoth Al-Rashid, "O Ja'afar, the house-master never wrote yonder lines save for a reason and I desire to discover what may be his object, so let us forgather with him and ask him the cause of this legend being inscribed in this place. Accordingly Harun al-Rashid entered and found a mansion of kingly degree [FN ] and of marvellous ordinance in the utmost that could be of beauty and ornament and five black slaves and as many Eunuchs were standing in the saloon to offer their services. Seeing this the Caliph marvelled with extreme marvel at the house and the housemaster who greeted them in friendly guise; after which he to whom the palace belonged sat down upon a divan and bade Al-Rashid sit over against him and signed to Ja'afar and Masrur to take their places in due degree, [FN ] whilst the negroes and the eunuchs stood expecting their commands for suit and service.

Presently was brought to them a huge waxen taper which lighted up the whole of the hall and the young house-master accosted the King and said to him, "Well come and welcome and fair welcome to our guests who to us are the most esteemed of folk and may Allah honour their places! Presently Manjab the master of the house bade bring for his guests meats and viands meet for the great, of all kinds and of every colour, so they obeyed his orders, and when they had eaten their sufficiency they were served with confections perfumed with rose-water wondrous fine.

Hereupon quoth the youth to Al-Rashid and those with him, "Almighty Allah make it pleasant to you [FN ] and blame us not and accept our excuses for what Allah hath made easy to us at such time of night, and there is no doubt but that this be a fortunate day when ye made act of presence before us.

Then the youth shifted them from that place to another room which was the women's apartment; and here he seated them upon the highest Divan and bade serve to them a platter containing fruits of all descriptions and ordered his servants to bring roast meats and fried meats and when this was done they set before them the service of wine. Anon appeared four troops of singers with their instruments of music and each was composed of five handmaids, so the whole numbered a score and these when they appeared before the master kissed ground between his hands and sat down each one in her own degree.

Then amongst them the cups went about and all sorrow was put to rout and the birds of joyance flapped their wings. This continued for an hour of time whilst the guests sat listening to the performers on the lute and other instruments and after there came forward five damsels other than the first twenty and formed a second and separate set and they showed their art of singing in wondrous mode even as was done by the first troop.

Presently on like guise came set after set till the whole twenty had performed and as Al-Rashid heard their strains he shook with pleasure--And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable! Hereupon Ja'afar was delighted with exceeding delight and rent his raiment even as the Caliph had done, but when the house-master saw this from him he ordered for the twain a suit of clothes that befitted them and bade strip them of the rended garments and clothed them in the new.

Presently the young man said, "O my lords, your time is gleesome and Allah make it to you gladsome and broaden your hearts and from you fend everything loathsome and lasting to you be honour and all that is blithesome. Then the youth ordered a handmaid of the fourth set who sang a tune and spake these couplets,.

Hearing this Manjab the master of the house shrieked out a mighty loud shriek and tare his upper dress and fell aswoon to the ground, and as Al-Rashid looked upon him and he bestrown in his fainting fit he beheld upon his sides the stripes of scourging with rods and palm-sticks. At this sight he was surprised and said, "O Ja'afar, verily I marvel at this youth and his generosity and munificence and fine manners, especially when I look upon that which hath befallen him of beating and bastinadoing, and in good sooth this is a wondrous matter.

Hereat the young man came to himself and shrieked a mighty loud shriek more violent than the first and put forth his hand to his garment and rent it in rags and fell swooning a second time, when his sides were bared more fully than before until the whole of his back appeared and Al-Rashid was straitened thereby as to his breast and his patience made protest, and he cried, "O Ja'afar, there is no help but that I ask concerning the wheals of this bastinadoing.

But the fault is from me and I merit a penalty even greater. O sons of impurity, say me have you not read the lines written over the doors of my house that here you are speaking of what concerneth you not and so right soon shall ye hear what pleaseth you not? However, had ye never entered my house you would not have known of my case and my shame [FN ] and withal sooth spoke he who said amongst his many sayings,.

Resumed the young man, "O vilest of folk, you asked of me a gugglet of water, and I brought you into my house and honoured and welcomed you and you ate of my victual and my salt, after which I led you into my Harem with the fancy that ye were honest men and behold you are no men.

Woe to you, what may ye be? But Al-Rashid's temper was ruffled and his jugulars swelled and the Hashimi vein stood out between his eyes and he cried, "Woe to thee, O Ja'afar!

However, O our lord, the good man is not ruined by the good man and this work is not righteous; nay, 'tis wholly unright, and one of the sages hath said, 'The mild in mind is not known save in the hour of wrath. Moreover, O our lord, the youth hath no default at all and the offence is from us, for that he forbade and forefended us and wrote up in many a place the warning words, Whoso speaketh of what concerneth him not, shall hear what pleaseth him not. Therefore he unmeriteth the pain of death.

Now what we had better do in this case is as follows: But when Ja'afar reached his abode he took thought in his mind as to how he should act and how he should send the Wali to the young man and bring him into the presence; and presently he retraced his way afoot and going to the Chief of Police acquainted him with the matter of the youth and carefully described his house and said to him, "Needs must thou bring him to us in the front of morning, but do thou be courteous in thy dealing and show him comradeship and startle him not nor cause him aught of fear.

And when the morning morrowed the Chief of Police, having chosen him as escort a single Mameluke, made for the house of the youth, and when he had reached it knocked at the door, upon which the owner came out to him and the Wali knew him by the description wherewith Ja'afar had described him, so he bade him accompany him. Hereat the heart of the young man fluttered.

Then he began with a tongue that was free of fear and showed naught of apprehension and spake the following lines,. After which he said, "The peace be upon thee, O Commander of the Faithful, and Allah prolong thy life and gladden unto thee what He hath given. I desire, however, that thou relate to me the cause of the blows upon thy body and no harm shall befal thee. Learn, O Commander of the Faithful, that my father was a jeweller man, a connoisseur in gems, who owned no son save myself; but when I had increased in age and had grown in stature and Allah had given me comeliness and perfection and beauty and brilliancy and plenty and good fortune, and my sire had brought me up with the best of education, Allah vouchsafed to him a daughter.

Now as I had reached the age of twenty years my parent departed to the ruth of Allah Almighty, bequeathing to me a thousand thousand dinars and fiefs and tenements and landed estates, so I let perform for him a sufficiency of mortuary-ceremonies after committing him to mother earth, and caused read twenty perlections of the Koran, and bestowed for him in alms a mighty matter.

I abode a-mourning for him a month full told, and when the term was ended my heart turned to diversion and disport and eating and drinking, and I made presents and gave away and doled charities of that my property, and I bought other tenements at the highest price. After this I purchased me singing damsels of the greatest value, and whosoever of my friends and companions was pleased with a musician girl I would hand her over to him without price; nay, I would present her in free gift, and if any saw aught of my belongings which pleased him and said to me, 'This is nice,' I would bestow it upon him without money-claim.

Furthermore I robed all my familiars in honourable robes, and honoured them with the highest honour, lavishing all that was by me, and whatever my hand possessed, ever quoting these lines,. This, my lord, is joy, this is pure delight.

But when my mother, O Commander of the Faithful, espied these doings she reproached me, yet would I not be reproved. Then she saw that my wealth would be wasted, so she divided it between me and her, to each one half, a moiety for herself and her daughter, and the rest for myself. And presently she left me, carrying away her good and separated herself from me, abiding afar and leaving me to enjoy my frivolity and intoxication. I ceased not eating and drinking and diversion and disport, and enjoying the all-conquering faces of the beautiful, [FN ] until the days smote me with their shafts, and all my wealth fell away from me and naught remained to me either above me or below me, and I ceased to be master of aught.

Then my condition waxed strait, and as nothing was left to me at home I sold the pots and pans until I lacked even a sleeping-mat, and I used to patch my skirt with my sleeve. And naught profited me, neither friend nor familiar nor lover, nor remained there any one of them to feed me with a loaf of bread; so my case became hard and the folk entreated me evilly, nor was there one of my comrades or compeers who would take thought for me; nay more, when I met any of them on the road or at the receptions they would turn away their faces from me.

So at last I took to pulling up the slabs [FN ] of the house floor and selling them by way of a livelihood, and one day as I did on this wise, lo and behold! Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, "How sweet is thy story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable;" Quoth she, "And where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the King suffer me to survive?

I carried forth the whole of them and set them in an apartment of the apartments and returned the flag of the floor to its place. Then I pondered what my brethren and companions had done with me, after which, O Prince of True Believers, I bought handsome clothes and made my person as it was before; and as soon as those men who were with me of yore and upon whom I had spent my substance in gifts and presents beheld me on such wise they flocked around me again. I accepted of them for a device which I purposed carrying out and took patience with them for a whole month whilst they came to visit me every day.

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