OF the ILL EFFECTS OF PRECIPITATION
by Unknown · from Tales from the Arabic — Complete
Adapted Version
Once, there was a King. He was very busy. Zoushad told him: Punish the man.
Zoushad was the King's advisor. He came to the King. "This Young Man lies," Zoushad said. "He makes trouble for you. Punish him now." The King listened to Zoushad. "Bring the Young Man," the King said. "I will punish him today."
The Young Man came. He asked the King to wait. "Hurrying makes trouble," he said. "Please listen to my story. It is about Prince Bihzad."
The Young Man began his story. Prince Bihzad was a very handsome boy. He heard about a beautiful Princess. He wanted to marry her right away. Bihzad's Father helped him. He asked for the Princess. The other King wanted money for the wedding. Father said, "Wait." Bihzad said, "No."
Prince Bihzad was too fast. He tried to get money quickly. He took money in a bad way. People caught him. They took him to their King. The Wise King saw Prince Bihzad. King said: "Boy is good. No hurry." Bihzad stayed. He did not punish him badly.
Bihzad's Father looked for him. He sent letters everywhere. The Wise King got a letter. He knew Prince Bihzad now. Wise King said: "No hurry." Gave money. He helped Bihzad go to the Princess.
Prince Bihzad was still fast. He did not go home first. He went straight to the Princess. He did not wait for his Father. It was the wedding day. Prince Bihzad was too fast. He wanted to see the Princess. He looked through a small hole.
The Princess's Mother saw him. She was very surprised. Prince Bihzad got a big fright. He could not see clearly. He felt very sad. Bihzad was not happy now. His joy turned to sorrow. He felt very bad. He wished he had waited.
The Young Man finished his story. "Hurrying is not good," he said. "It makes sad things happen. King, please wait." The King thought. He did not punish the Young Man. He said, "I will wait until tomorrow."
The King thought about the story. He learned that waiting is good. He did not punish the young man. He decided to wait.
Original Story
OF THE ILL EFFECTS OF PRECIPITATION.
When it was the fourth day, the fourth vizier, whose name was Zoushad, made his appearance and prostrating himself to the king, said to him, "O king, suffer not the talk of yonder youth to delude thee, for that he is not a truth-teller. So long as he abideth on life, the folk will not give over talking nor will thy heart cease to be occupied with him." "By Allah," cried the king, "thou sayst sooth and I will cause fetch him this day and slay him before me." Then he commanded to bring the youth; so they brought him in shackles and he said to him, "Out on thee! Thinkest thou to appease my heart with thy prate, whereby the days are spent in talk? I mean to slay thee this day and be quit of thee." "O king," answered the youth, "it is in thy power to slay me whensoever thou wilt, but haste is of the fashion of the base and patience of that of the noble. If thou put me to death, thou wilt repent, and if thou desire to bring me back to life, thou wilt not be able thereunto. Indeed, whoso acteth hastily in an affair, there befalleth him what befell Bihzad, son of the king." Quoth the king, "And what is his story?" "O king," replied the young treasurer,
STORY OF PRINCE BIHZAD.
"There was once, of old time, a king and he had a son [named Bihzad], there was not in his day a goodlier than he and he loved to consort with the folk and to sit with the merchants and converse with them. One day, as he sat in an assembly, amongst a number of folk, he heard them talking of his own goodliness and grace and saying, 'There is not in his time a goodlier than he.' But one of the company said, 'Indeed, the daughter of King Such-an-one is handsomer than he.' When Bihzad heard this saying, his reason fled and his heart fluttered and he called the last speaker and said to him, 'Repeat to me that which thou saidst and tell me the truth concerning her whom thou avouchest to be handsomer than I and whose daughter she is.' Quoth the man, 'She is the daughter of King Such-an-one;' whereupon Bihzad's heart clave to her and his colour changed.
The news reached his father, who said to him, 'O my son, this damsel to whom thy heart cleaveth is at thy commandment and we have power over her; so wait till I demand her [in marriage] for thee.' But the prince said, 'I will not wait.' So his father hastened in the matter and sent to demand her of her father, who required of him a hundred thousand dinars to his daughter's dowry. Quoth Bihzad's father, 'So be it,' and paid down what was in his treasuries, and there remained to his charge but a little of the dower. So he said to his son, 'Have patience, O my son, till we gather together the rest of the money and send to fetch her to thee, for that she is become thine.' Therewith the prince waxed exceeding wroth and said, 'I will not have patience;' so he took his sword and his spear and mounting his horse, went forth and fell to stopping the way, [so haply that he might win what lacked of the dowry].
It chanced one day that he fell in upon a company of folk and they overcame him by dint of numbers and taking him prisoner, pinioned him and carried him to the lord of that country. The latter saw his fashion and grace and misdoubting of him, said, 'This is no robber's favour. Tell me truly, O youth, who thou art.' Bihzad thought shame to acquaint him with his condition and chose rather death for himself; so he answered, 'I am nought but a thief and a bandit.' Quoth the king, 'It behoveth us not to act hastily in the matter of this youth, but that we look into his affair, for that haste still engendereth repentance.' So he imprisoned him in his palace and assigned him one who should serve him.
Meanwhile, the news spread abroad that Bihzad, son of the king, was lost, whereupon his father sent letters in quest of him [to all the kings and amongst others to him with whom he was imprisoned]. When the letter reached the latter, he praised God the Most High for that he had not anydele hastened in Bihzad's affair and letting bring him before himself, said to him, 'Art thou minded to destroy thyself?' Quoth Bihzad, '[I did this] for fear of reproach;' and the king said, 'An thou fear reproach, thou shouldst not practise haste [in that thou dost]; knowest thou not that the fruit of haste is repentance? If we had hasted, we also, like unto thee, we had repented.'
Then he conferred on him a dress of honour and engaged to him for the completion of the dowry and sent to his father, giving him the glad news and comforting his heart with [the tidings of] his son's safety; after which he said to Bihzad, Arise, O my son, and go to thy father.' 'O king,' rejoined the prince, 'complete thy kindness to me by [hastening] my going-in to my wife; for, if I go back to my father, till he send a messenger and he return, promising me, the time will be long.' The king laughed and marvelled at him and said to him, 'I fear for thee from this haste, lest thou come to shame and attain not thy desire.' Then he gave him wealth galore and wrote him letters, commending him to the father of the princess, and despatched him to them. When he drew near their country, the king came forth to meet him with the people of his realm and assigned him a handsome lodging and bade hasten the going-in of his daughter to him, in compliance with the other king's letter. Moreover, he advised the prince's father [of his son's coming] and they busied themselves with the affair of the damsel.
When it was the day of the going-in,[FN#110] Bihzad, of his haste and lack of patience, betook himself to the wall, which was between himself and the princess's lodging and in which there was a hole pierced, and looked, so he might see his bride, of his haste. But the bride's mother saw him and this was grievous to her; so she took from one of the servants two red-hot iron spits and thrust them into the hole through which the prince was looking. The spits ran into his eyes and put them out and he fell down aswoon and joyance was changed and became mourning and sore concern. See, then, O king," continued the youth, "the issue of the prince's haste and lack of deliberation, for indeed his haste bequeathed him long repentance and his joy was changed to mourning; and on like wise was it with the woman who hastened to put out his eyes and deliberated not. All this was the doing of haste; wherefore it behoveth the king not to be hasty in putting me to death, for that I am under the grasp of his hand, and what time soever thou desirest my slaughter, it shall not escape [thee]."
When the king heard this, his anger subsided and he said, "Carry him back to prison till to-morrow, to we may look into his affair."
The Fifth Day
Story DNA
Moral
Haste often leads to regret and undesirable outcomes, while patience allows for better judgment and more favorable results.
Plot Summary
A vizier urges a king to execute a youth who has been delaying his death by telling stories. The youth pleads for patience, warning against haste, and tells the tale of Prince Bihzad. Bihzad, driven by impatience, rushes into a marriage, turns to banditry for a dowry, and is eventually blinded by his bride's mother when he peeks at his bride through a wall on their wedding day. The youth uses Bihzad's tragic story to demonstrate the dire consequences of haste, convincing the king to postpone his execution once more.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to humility
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The framing story is characteristic of 'frame narratives' common in Middle Eastern literature, such as 'One Thousand and One Nights', where stories are told to delay an impending doom or to teach a lesson.
Plot Beats (15)
- The fourth vizier, Zoushad, advises the king to execute the youth immediately, claiming he is a liar and a distraction.
- The king agrees and orders the youth brought before him for execution.
- The youth pleads for patience, arguing that 'haste is of the fashion of the base' and warns of repentance, then offers to tell a story about Prince Bihzad.
- The youth begins the story of Prince Bihzad, a handsome prince who falls instantly in love with a princess after hearing she is more beautiful than him.
- Bihzad's father tries to arrange the marriage, but Bihzad's impatience leads him to refuse to wait for the full dowry to be gathered.
- Bihzad, in his haste, turns to banditry to acquire the remaining dowry, but is captured.
- The king of the country where Bihzad is captured recognizes his noble bearing and, advising against haste, imprisons him instead of executing him.
- Bihzad's father sends letters searching for him; the king who captured Bihzad receives one and realizes Bihzad's true identity.
- The wise king advises Bihzad against haste, completes the dowry, and sends him to his bride's kingdom.
- Bihzad, still impatient, insists on going directly to his bride's kingdom without first returning to his father.
- On the wedding day, Bihzad's impatience leads him to peek through a hole in the wall to see his bride.
- The bride's mother sees Bihzad peeking and, in her own haste and anger, blinds him with red-hot iron spits.
- Bihzad's joy turns to sorrow and mourning due to his lack of deliberation.
- The youth concludes his story, reiterating the moral about the ill effects of haste and advising the king to be patient.
- The king, swayed by the story, postpones the youth's execution until the next day.
Characters
Zoushad
A man of average height and build, likely with a stern or serious demeanor befitting a vizier. His features would be consistent with a man from the Middle East, perhaps with a well-maintained beard.
Attire: Richly embroidered silk robes, possibly a thobe or kaftan, in deep, authoritative colors like maroon or dark blue, with a matching turban adorned with a single, prominent jewel. He would wear soft leather slippers.
Wants: To remove the young treasurer from the king's favor and influence, possibly to maintain his own power or avoid further disruption.
Flaw: His own impatience and eagerness to see the young treasurer eliminated, which leads him to advise haste.
Does not change within this segment; he remains focused on his goal of discrediting the young treasurer.
Manipulative, cunning, persuasive, impatient, loyal (to the king's immediate desires).
The King (of the main story)
A powerful and imposing figure, likely of mature age, with a regal bearing. His build would suggest a life of authority and comfort, consistent with a monarch from an Arabian setting.
Attire: Opulent royal robes, such as a flowing thobe or bisht made of fine silk or brocade, in deep, rich colors like royal blue or emerald green, possibly embroidered with gold. A large, jeweled turban would crown his head, and he might wear ornate rings.
Wants: To maintain order and peace in his kingdom, to make decisions quickly, and to be rid of perceived annoyances.
Flaw: His impulsiveness and susceptibility to flattery or strong opinions, leading him to make hasty judgments.
Begins as impulsive and ready to condemn, but by the end of the segment, he is persuaded to pause and reconsider, showing a slight shift towards deliberation.
Impulsive, easily swayed, prone to anger, ultimately open to reason (eventually).
The Young Treasurer
A young man, likely slender or of average build, with a thoughtful and earnest expression. His appearance would be clean and respectable, befitting a treasurer, but not as opulent as a vizier or king.
Attire: Modest but well-made robes, such as a simple thobe or tunic in a light color like cream or pale blue, possibly with subtle embroidery, indicating his position but not ostentation. He might wear a simple cap or a small, unadorned turban.
Wants: To save his own life by demonstrating the value of patience and deliberation, and to impart wisdom to the king.
Flaw: His vulnerability to the king's wrath and the machinations of others like Zoushad.
Remains consistent in his wisdom and persuasive abilities, successfully delaying his execution and influencing the king's decision.
Wise, patient, eloquent, persuasive, resilient.
Prince Bihzad
A remarkably handsome young man, described as the 'goodlier' of his time. He would have a strong, athletic build, suitable for riding and carrying a sword and spear, consistent with a prince from an Arabian kingdom.
Attire: Initially, fine princely attire, perhaps a silk tunic and trousers with a short, embroidered vest, and soft leather boots. Later, when acting as a bandit, more rugged, practical clothing, but still retaining an underlying quality. When restored, a 'dress of honour' would be a lavish, richly embroidered kaftan.
Wants: Driven by vanity and infatuation to possess the princess, then by shame to conceal his identity.
Flaw: His extreme impulsiveness and lack of patience, which leads to all his misfortunes.
Begins as a proud, handsome prince, falls due to his impulsiveness, suffers blindness and humiliation, and ends in deep repentance and sorrow. His arc is a cautionary tale.
Handsome, impulsive, impatient, proud, reckless, ultimately regretful.
Bihzad's Father (The King in Bihzad's story)
A wise and patient king, likely of mature age, with a dignified presence. His features would reflect his Arabian heritage.
Attire: Royal robes of fine silk or brocade, in colors like deep purple or gold, with subtle but rich embroidery. A jeweled turban would signify his status.
Wants: To secure a good marriage for his son, to protect him, and to act with proper deliberation.
Flaw: His love for his son makes him try to appease Bihzad's impatience, even when it goes against his better judgment.
Remains consistent in his wisdom and patience, serving as a foil to his son's impulsiveness.
Wise, patient, loving, responsible, concerned.
The Princess's Father (The King who imprisons Bihzad)
A king who values deliberation and justice, likely of mature age, with a discerning and thoughtful appearance. His features would be consistent with a monarch from an Arabian kingdom.
Attire: Royal robes of fine fabric, perhaps a rich blue or green thobe with silver embroidery, and a jeweled turban. His attire would reflect his status and wisdom.
Wants: To rule justly, to avoid hasty judgments, and to ensure proper conduct.
Flaw: None explicitly shown; he embodies the virtue of patience.
Remains consistent in his wisdom, serving as a positive example of deliberation.
Wise, just, patient, discerning, generous.
The Princess
Described as handsomer than Prince Bihzad, implying extraordinary beauty. She would have graceful features and a slender build, consistent with a royal princess from an Arabian setting.
Attire: Lavish bridal attire, likely a richly embroidered silk gown (such as a traditional Arabian wedding dress) in white or cream, adorned with gold thread, pearls, and jewels. She would wear fine jewelry and possibly a delicate veil.
Wants: To marry Prince Bihzad, as arranged by her father.
Flaw: None shown, as she is a passive character in the story.
Remains a static figure, the object of Bihzad's desire and the unwitting cause of his downfall.
Not explicitly detailed, but implied to be beautiful and desirable.
The Princess's Mother
A protective mother, likely of mature age, with a watchful and stern demeanor. Her features would be consistent with a woman from an Arabian setting.
Attire: Respectable, modest robes of fine fabric, such as a dark silk abaya or kaftan, possibly with subtle embroidery, and a matching head covering.
Wants: To protect her daughter's modesty and honor, especially on her wedding night.
Flaw: Her own impulsiveness and lack of deliberation, leading her to act with extreme haste and violence.
A static character who serves as an example of the ill effects of haste, mirroring Bihzad's flaw.
Protective, quick to anger, decisive, lacking deliberation.
Locations
The King's Audience Chamber
A formal, grand chamber within an Arabian palace, likely adorned with intricate geometric tile mosaics, possibly with a central fountain or a raised dais for the king. The air is tense with the weight of royal judgment.
Mood: Tense, formal, authoritative, with an underlying sense of dread for the shackled youth.
The vizier accuses the youth, and the king commands the youth's execution, leading to the telling of Prince Bihzad's story.
The Princess's Lodging
A private chamber within a royal dwelling, likely of Arabian or Persian style, with a wall separating it from an adjacent area. The wall has a small, pre-existing hole.
Mood: Initially expectant and joyful, quickly turning to horror and despair.
Prince Bihzad, in his haste, peeks through a hole in the wall to see his bride, and her mother blinds him with red-hot spits.