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Arabian Nights, The Angel of Death, 850
Translation: Sir Richard
Burton, 1950
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Death of the
Proud,
the Devout Man
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Death of the Proud, the Devout Man
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IT is related, O auspicious King, that one of the
olden monarchs was once minded to ride out in state with the
officers of his realm and the grandees of his retinue and display to
the folk the marvels of his magnificence. So he ordered his lords
and emirs equip them therefore and commanded his keeper of the
wardrobe to bring him of the richest of raiment, such as befitted
the King in his state, and he bade them bring his steeds of the
finest breeds and pedigrees every man heeds. Which being done, he
chose out of the raiment what rejoiced him most and of the horses
that which he deemed best, and donning the clothes, together with a
collar set with margarites and rubies and all manner jewels, mounted
and set forth in state, making his destrier prance and curvet among
his troops and glorying in his pride and despotic power.
And Iblis came to him and, laying his hand upon his
nose, blew into his nostrils the breath of hauteur and conceit, so
that he magnified and glorified himself and said in his heart, "Who
among men is like unto me?" And he became so pulled up with
arrogance and self-sufficiency, and so taken up with the thought of
his own splendor and magnificence, that he would not vouchsafe a
glance to any man. Presently there stood before him one clad in
tattered clothes and saluted him, but he returned not his salaam,
whereupon the stranger laid hold of his horse's bridle. "Lift thy
hand!" cried the King. "Thou knowest not whose bridle rein it is
whereof thou takest hold." Quoth the other, "I have a need of thee."
Quoth the King, "Wait till I alight, and then name thy need."
Rejoined the stranger, "It is a secret and I will not tell it but in
thine ear." So the King bowed his head to him and he said, "I am the
Angel of Death and I purpose to take thy soul." Replied the King,
"Have patience with me a little, whilst I return to my house and
take leave of my people and children and neighbors and wife." "By no
means so," answered the Angel. "Thou shalt never return nor look on
them again, for the fated term of thy life is past."
So saying, he took the soul of the King (who fell off his horse's
back dead) and departed thence. Presently the Death Angel met a
devout man, of whom Almighty Allah had accepted, and saluted him. He
returned the salute, and the Angel said to him, "O pious man, I have
a need of thee which must be kept secret." "Tell it in my ear,"
quoth the devotee, and quoth the other, "I am the Angel of Death."
Replied the man: "Welcome to thee! And praised be Allah for thy
coming! I am aweary of awaiting thine arrival, for indeed long hath
been thine absence from the lover which longeth for thee." Said the
Angel, "If thou have any business, make an end of it," but the other
answered, saying, "There is nothing so urgent to me as the meeting
with my Lord, to whom be honor and glory!" And the Angel said, "How
wouldst thou fain have me take thy soul? I am bidden to take it as
thou willest and choosest." He replied, "Tarry till I make the wuzu
ablution and pray, and when I prostrate myself, then take my soul
while my body is on the ground." Quoth the Angel, "Verily, my Lord
(be He extolled and exalted!) commanded me not to take thy soul but
with thy consent and as thou shouldst wish, so I will do thy will."
Then the devout man made the minor ablution and prayed, and the
Angel of Death took his soul in the act of prostration and Almighty
Allah transported it to the place of mercy and acceptance and
forgiveness.
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