"Commander of the Faithful," said Sidi Nonman, "I won't trouble your majesty with my family background, which is not illustrious enough to merit your attention. As for my fortune, my parents, by their good economy, left me enough to live on like an honest man, free from ambition, or from being a burden to anyone.
"With these advantages, the only thing I needed to make my happiness complete, was a loving wife to share them with; but that was a blessing that pleased God not to grant me. On the contrary, it was my bad luck to have a wife, who, the day after our wedding, began to try my patience in a manner not to be conceived by any one that has not gone through the same thing.
"As it is the custom for us to marry without seeing or knowing who we are to marry, your majesty is aware that a husband has no reason to complain when he finds that the wife that is made choice of for him is not horribly ugly and deformed, and that the way she acts and her intelligence correct any slight imperfections of the body.
"The first time I saw my wife's face, after she was brought home, with the usual ceremonies, to my house, I was glad to find that I hadn't been lied to about what she looked like, meaning I liked the way she looked.
"The day after our wedding, when our dinner was served, consisting of several dishes, I went into the dining room, and not finding my wife there, ordered her to be called to dinner; she made me wait a long time, but at last came. I swallowed my impatience, and we sat down to the table, and I began to eat rice with a spoon, the way people usually do.
"On the other hand, my wife, instead of using of a spoon, pulled a little case out of her pocket, and took out of it an ear-picker, with which she picked up the rice grain by grain.
"Surprised at this way of eating, I said to her, 'Amina' (which was her name), 'does your family usually eat rice like this, or do you do it because you don't eat a lot, or do you count the grains so you don't eat more at one time than at another? If you do it because you're being frugal, and to teach me not to be extravagant, you have no reason to be afraid of that, and I can assure you we won't be bankrupted with the grocery bill. We have, thank God, enough to live comfortably, without depriving ourselves of things we have to have. Don't restrain yourself, my dear Amina, but eat as you see me eat.' The affable manner in which I said all this might have gotten some kind of pleasant response; but she, without saying a word, continued to eat after the same fashion. Then, making me even more uneasy, she hardly ever ate a grain of rice; and instead of eating any of the other kinds of food with me, she now and then put some crumbs of bread into her mouth, but not so much as a sparrow would have eaten.
"I was very much provoked at her obstinacy; but yet, to excuse her, I imagined that she had not been used to eat with men, much less with a husband, before whom she might perhaps have been taught to be restrained, but, at the same time, thought she carried her simplicity too far. I fancied again that she might have breakfasted late, or that she might have a mind to eat alone, and at more liberty. These considerations prevented me from saying any more to her then, to ruffle her temper, or to show any sign of dissatisfaction. After dinner I left her, but not with an air that showed any displeasure.
At night, at supper, she did the same thing, and the next day, and every time we eat together, behaved herself after the same manner. I knew it was impossible for a woman to live on so little victuals, and that there was some mystery in it, which I did not understand. This made me resolve to dissemble: I seemed to take no notice of her actions, in hopes that time would bring her to live with me as I desired she should. But my hopes were in vain, and it was not long before I was convinced they were so.
One night when Amina thought me fast asleep, she got out of bed softly, dressed herself with great precaution, not to make a noise, for fear of waking me. I could not comprehend what her design was, but curiosity made me feign a sound sleep; and as soon as she had dressed herself, she crept softly out of the room.
When her back was turned, I got up, threw my gown over my shoulders, and had time enough to see her, by a window that looked out into my courtyard, go out at the street door.
I ran presently down to the door, which she left half open, and followed her by moonlight, till she went into a burying-ground just by our house. I got to the end of the wall, taking care not to be seen, and looked over, and saw Amina with a ghoul.
Your majesty knows that the ghouls of both sexes are wandering demons, which generally infest old buildings, from whence they rush out by surprise, on people that pass by, kill them, and eat their flesh, and, for want of prey, will sometimes go into the night into burying-grounds, and feed upon dead bodies that have been buried there.
I was in a terrible surprise to see my wife with this ghoul. They dug up an dead body which had been buried but that day, and the ghoul cut the flesh into several pieces, and they eat together by the graveside, where they entertained each other very quietly during their so cruel and inhuman repast. But I was so far off, that it was impossible for me to hear their discourse, which, to be sure, was as strange as their repast, the remembrance of which makes me now shudder.
When they had made an end of this horrible feast, they threw the dead body into the grave again, and filled it up with the earth they had dug out. While they were doing that, I made haste home, and leaving the door as I found it, went into my chamber, and to bed again, where I pretended to be fast asleep.
Soon afterwards, Amina came, undressed herself without the least noise, and came to bed again, with all the joy imaginable, that she had succeeded so well without being discovered.
My mind was so full of the idea of so barbarous and abominable an action, that I had a great reluctancy to lie by a person who was guilty of it, and was a long time before I could fall asleep again. However, I got a short nap; but waked at the first call to public prayers at daybreak, got up, dressed myself, and went to the mosque.
After prayers, I went out of the town, and spent the morning in walking in the gardens, to think what I should do to oblige my wife to change her manner of life: I rejected all the violent measures that came into my thoughts, and I resolved to use all gentle means to cure that unhappy inclination of hers. And these thoughts brought me insensibly home by dinner-time.
As soon as Amina saw me come in, she ordered dinner to be served up; and as I saw she persisted in the same manner of eating, I said to her, with all the moderation possible, You know, Amina, what reason I have to be surprised, when the next day after our marriage I saw you eat rice in so small a quantity, and odd manner, as would have made any husband but me angry; you know also, I only acquainted you that I was uneasy at it, and desired you to eat of the other meats, which I ordered to be dressed several ways, to know your taste, and which you like best; and I am sure my table did not want for variety. Besides, all my remonstrances have had no effect on you, and you persist in your old way: I have never constrained you, and should be sorry now to say anything to make you uneasy; but tell me, Amina, I conjure thee, are not the meats served at my table better than dead flesh?
I had no sooner pronounced these last words, but Amina, who knew that I had watched her that night, flew into a rage beyond imagination. Her face was as red as scarlet, her eyes ready to start out of her head, and she foamed again with passion.
The terrible condition I saw her in, frightened me so much, that I stood as motionless as a stock or stone, and was not able to defend myself against the horrible wickedness she meditated against me, and which will surprise your majesty. In the violence of her passion, she dipped her hand into a basin of water which stood just by her, and muttering some words between her teeth, which I could not hear, she threw some water in my face, and said to me in a furious tone, Wretch, receive the punishment of thy curiosity, and become a dog.
No sooner had Amina, whom I knew not to be a sorceress till then, pronounced these diabolical words, but I was immediately changed into a dog. My amazement and surprise at so sudden and unexpected a change prevented my thinking at first of providing for my safety, till she took up a great stick to beat me, with which she laid on such heavy blows as were enough to kill me. I thought to have escaped her rage, by running into the yard, but she pursued me with the same fury; and notwithstanding all my activity, I could not avoid her blows. At last, when she was tired of beating me, and in despair that she had not killed me, as she desired, she thought of a new way to do it: She half opened the street door, that she might squeeze me to death between that and the wall. I was presently sensible of her pernicious design, and as present danger inspires a presence of mind, I looked her earnestly in the face, and took my opportunity so well, that I passed through quick enough to save my life, though she pinched the end of my tail.
The pain I felt made me cry out and howl, as I ran along the streets, which brought all the dogs about me, and I was bit by several of them, but, to avoid their pursuit, ran into the shop of a tripe dealer, where I saved myself.
The tripe dealer at first took my part with a great deal of compassion, by driving away the dogs that followed me, and would have worried me in his house. My first care was to run into the first hole I met with, to hide myself; but I was deceived in the sanctuary and protection I hoped for: my host was one of those extravagantly superstitious people who consider dogs unclean, and if by chance one happens to touch them in the street, cannot use soap and water enough to wash their garments clean. After the dogs who chased me so far were all dispersed and gone, he did all he could to drive me out of his house that day; but I was hid, and out of his reach, and spent that night in his shop in spite of him; and indeed I stood in need of rest, to recover from Amina's mistreatment.
But not to weary your majesty with trifling circumstances, I shall not particuularize the melancholy reflections I made on my metamorphosis; but only tell, that my host going out the next morning to lay in a stock of sheep-heads, and while he was laying out his goods, I crept out of my hole, and got among some other dogs of the neighborhood, who had followed my host by the scent of his meat, and surrounded the shop, in expectation of having some thrown to them.
My host observing me among them in a begging posture, and considering that I had stolen nothing while I lay in the shop, distinguished me from the rest, by throwing me larger pieces of meat, and more often than the other dogs; after he had given me as much as he thought fit, I looked upon him earnestly, wagging my tail, to show him I begged to come into the shop again. But he was adamant, and opposed my entrance with a stick in his hand, so I was forced to go find another place to live.
Some houses farther on, I stopped at a baker's shop, who was of a merry, gay temperament, quite the opposite of the tripe dealer, who was eaten up with melancholy. The baker was then eating breakfast, and though I made no sign that I asked for anything, he threw me a bit of bread. Instead of snatching it up greedily, as most dogs do, I looked up into his face first, and wagged my tail to show my acknowledgement, at which he was mightily pleased, and smiled. Afterwards, though I was not hungry, I ate the piece of bread, and he let me come into the shop. I turned myself around toward the street, to show him I only wanted his protection right then, which he not only granted, but by his caresses assured me of, and showed me a place to lay down, which I took advantage of, and kept while I lived with him.
Whenever he had breakfast, lunch or supper, I always had my share of food; and for my own part, I loved him, and was a faithful as gratitude required of me. I always had my eyes on him, and he scarce stirred out of doors, but I was at his heels. I was the more exact, because I perceived my diligence pleased him; for whenever he went out, if I did not see him, he would call Chance, which was the name he gave me.
At this name I would jump and fly, and run round and round him, and never fawning on him till he went out; and then I always either followed him, or ran before him, often staring him in the face, to show my joy.
I had lived some time with this baker, when a woman came one day into the shop to buy some bread, and giving my master a bad piece of money among some good, and he perceived it, gave it back again, and asked for another.
The woman refused to take it again, and affirmed it to be good. The baker maintained the contrary, and told the woman that the piece of money was so visibly false, that his dog could tell it was: upon which he called, Chance, Chance, and I jumped immediately on the counter, and the baker throwing the money down before me, said, See, and tell me which of these pieces is bad! I looked over all the pieces of money, and then set my paw upon that which was bad, separated it from the rest, and afterwards stared my master in the face, to show him what I had done.
The baker, who never in the least thought of my pitching upon the bad money, but only called me to banter the woman, was very much surprised. The woman had nothing to say for herself, but changed the money, and gave another one instead of the bad one; and soon as she was gone, my master called in some neighbors, and exaggerated very much upon my capacity, telling them what had happened.
The neighbors all desired to make the experiment, and of all the bad money they showed me, mixed with good, I did not miss one piece, but separated the bad money from the good.
The woman, for her part, was sure to tell everybody she met of my ability, and what had happened; insomuch, that the fame of my great capacity in distinguishing good money from bad, was not only spread throughout the neighborhood, but all that part of the town, and insensibly through the whole city.
I had business enough every day, for I was obliged to show my skill to all customers that came to buy bread of my master. In short, my reputation procured my master more business than he could manage, and brought him customers from the most distant parts of the town; and this run of business lasted so long, that my master owned to his neighbors that I was a treasure to him.
A great many people envied my master's good fortune, and laid a great many snares and traps to steal me away, which obliged him always to keep me in his sight. One day a woman came out of curiosity to buy some bread, and seeing me sit upon the counter, threw down among six pieces of money, one that was bad: I separated it presently from the good, and setting my paw upon it, looked in the woman's face, as if to say, Is it not so? Upon which the woman replied, Yes, you are right it is bad; and staying some time in the shop to look at and admire me, at last paid my master for his bread, and when she went out of the shop, made a sign, unknown to him, for me to follow her.
I was always attentive to any means to deliver myself out of so strange a metamorphosis, and had observed that the woman examined me with an extraordinary attention, and imagined that she might know something of my misfortune: However, I let her go, but all the time kept my eye fixed on her. Then walking two or three steps, she turned around, and seeing that I only looked at her, without moving from my place, she made another sign to me to follow her.
Without deliberating any longer, and observing that my master the baker was busy cleaning bran, and was not paying attention to me, I jumped off the counter, and followed the woman, who seemed overjoyed.
After I had gone some way, she stopped at a house, opened the door, and holding it in her hand, called to me to come in, saying, You won't regret coming with me. When I had entered, she shut the door, and carried me into a room, where I saw a young, beautiful woman doing embroidery. This woman, who was the daughter of the charitable woman who had brought me from the baker's,was a very skilled magician, as I found afterwards.
Daughter, said the mother, I have brought you the famous baker's dog, that can tell good money from bad: You know that I gave you my thoughts on that matter when first I heard of him, and told you, I fancied he was a man changed into a dog. Today, I decided to go buy some bread from that baker, and was myself a witness of the wonders performed by this dog, which has become so famous here in Baghdad. Now tell me, daughter, am I deceived in my conjectures? No, mother, you are not, answered the daughter, and I will make it appear so.
The young lady immediately got up, put her hand into a basin of water, which stood by her, and throwing some upon me, said, If you are a dog, remain so, but if you were born a man, resume your former shape, by the virtue of this water. At that instant, the enchantment was broken, and I became a man like I was before.
Suffused with gratitude for this great kindness, I threw myself at the feet of my deliverer, and after I had kissed the hem of her garment, I said, my dear deliverer, I am so sensible of your exceeding and unparalelled goodness toward a stranger, as I am, that I beg of you to tell me what I can do to show my gratitude, or rather, dispose of me as a slave, to whom you have a just right, since I am entirely yours. And that you may know who I am, I will tell you my story in as few words as possible.
After I had told her who I was, I gave her an account of my marriage with Amina, of the complaisance I showed her, my patience in bearing her extraordinary behavior, and the indignity with which she used me; and finished my story with my transformation, and thanking her mother for the inexprssible happiness she had procured me.
Sidi Nonman, said the daughter to me, let us not talk of obligations; it is enough to me, that I have done any service to so honest a man as you are; but let us talk a little of Amina your wife, with whom I was acquainted before your marriage; and, as I know her to be a magician, she is aware that I understand that art as well as herself, since we had both the same mistress. We often meet at the baths, but as our personalities are different, I have avoided getting to know her, and she acts the same with me. I am not at all surprised at her wickedness. But what I have already done for you is not sufficient; for I will complete what I have begun, and you shall punish her as she deserves, by going home again, and assuming the authority which belongs to you. Talk to my mother a little while, while I go figure out the proper way to deal with this; I will come back to you in a minute.
My deliveress went into another room, where I expressed my sense of obligation to the mother, who said to me, You see my daughter is as good in the magic art as Amina, but makes so good a use of it, that you would be surprised to know the good she has done, and daily does with it; and that makes me let her practice it; I wouldn't let her, if she did evil with it.
Then the mother began to relate some of the wonders she had known her daughter to do. When she came back into the room, she had a little bottle in her hand. Sidi Nonman, she said, my books, which I have been looking at, tell me Amina is not at home, but will come back in a little while. They also tell me she pretended before your servants to be very uneasy at your absence, and made them believe that at dinner you remembered something which made you go out immediately, and that as you went out, you left the door open, and a dog came in as far as the hall while she was eating, and she chased him out again, beating him with a great stick.
Take this little bottle, and go home immediately, and wait in your own room until she comes in. As soon as she comes home, run down into the yard, and meet her head on. In her surprise to see you back so unexpectedly, she will turn her back to run; then be sure to have the bottle ready, and throw some of the liquid it contains on her, pronouncing at the same time boldly: Receive the chastisement of thy wickedness. I will tell you no more; you will see what happens then.
After she said this, I said goodbye to my benefactors, telling them I was very grateful to them and I would always be in their debt, and then went home.
Everything happened as the young magician had foretold. It wasn't long before Amina came home; as she came into the yard, I went and met her with the bottle in my hand. As soon as she saw me, she shrieked, and turned to run; I threw the liquid upon her, and pronouncing the words which the young magician taught me, she was immediately changed into the mare your majesty saw me riding yesterday.
Right then, seeing as she was so shocked, I grabbed her by the mane, and dragged her into the stable, where I put a halter on her head, and when I had tied her up, I grabbed a whip and whipped her until I was tired, yelling at her about her wickedness all the while, and I have been punishing her like this every day ever since. I hope, Commander of the Faithful, continued Sidi Nonman, making an end of his story, that your majesty will not disapprove of my behavior, and that you will think I have shown so wicked and destructive a woman more generosity than she deserved.
When the caliph found that Sidi Nonman had nothing more to say, he said to Sidi, The story is very unique, and the wickedness of your wife inexcusable; therefore I do not absolutely condemn what you've done, but I would have you think about how terrible a punishment it is for a human being to be turned into an animal, and I'd like you to be satisfied with that. And I would have you go to this witch and have her lift the enchantment, but I know how stubborn and incorrigibly cruel magicians who abuse their skill are, and I worry that if your wife was changed back into a woman, what she might do to you then would be even worse than what she's already done.