Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/152

132 Behram’s heart was hardened against him and he ceased not to torment him day and night during the voyage, whilst Hassan took patience and humbled himself in supplication to God the Most High, to whom belong might and majesty.

They sailed the sea three months, till God the Most High sent forth upon them a contrary wind and the sea grew black and rose against the ship, by reason of the much wind; whereupon quoth the captain and the sailors, ‘By Allah, this is all on account of yonder youth, who hath been these three months in torment with this Magian. Indeed, this is unlawful in the sight of God the Most High.’ Then they rose against the Magian and slew his servants and all who were with him; which when he saw, he made sure of death and feared for himself. So he loosed Hassan from his bonds and pulling off the ragged clothes he had on, clad him in others. Moreover, he made his excuses to him and promised to teach him the craft and restore him to his native land, saying, ‘O my son, bear me not malice for that I have done with thee.’ Quoth Hassan, ‘How can I ever again put faith in thee?’ But Behram said, ‘O my son, but for offence, there were no pardon. Indeed, I did all this with thee, but to try thy patience, and thou knowest that the case is altogether in God’s hands.’

The sailors and the captain rejoiced in Hassan’s release, and he called down blessings on them and praised God the Most High and thanked Him. With this the wind fell and the sky cleared, and they continued their voyage with a fair breeze. Then said Hassan to Behram, ‘O Persian, whither goest thou?’ ‘O my son,’ answered the Magian, ‘I am bound for the Mountain of Clouds, where is the elixir which we use in alchemy.’ And he swore to him by the Fire and the Light that he had no longer any cause to fear him. So Hassan’s heart was