The Thousand and One Days

n commerce when he inherited a fortune which gr

e joy, and he felt it even embarrassing to possess so much gold and so

p in but one bed. Hence if I can but rest in peace in a substantial and commodious house, eat as much as I desire, and invite a friend to partake of my repast, that is all

vertheless wished before putting it into exec

garden of the grand mosque dwelt usually a sage mufti, a grave and reverend man. Seating him

unsel of thy wisdom. I am suddenly become very rich, as thou knowest, and I have no son

s should never be desp

king of sharing them with others, and of keeping only what

what the number of

est of lives, a hundred years for example

alone

f years, would it not be more agreeable to me to know that my riches are useful, than to feel that they were hidd

o," said

t is a goo

say. Nothing is more common than to think wisely; noth

e of fulfilling the law, and of doing good. How o

ted profoundly,

un that ripens the thoughts of men. We never repent of having reflected before acting; we

to the house of his other friend, a Moorish merchant, who l

on I come to put to thee this question: 'In what way, thinkest thou, a man who

nd any difficulty in giving, if he really possess the desire. He may found a mosque, succour the aged, supp

"if thou hadst aught to give

of rice and a little coffee. If I had money, it is very certain that I should begin by buying a house and goods. It is of no use to say to a poor ma

lim, having stopped to converse with his friend, said to him: "Thou art of a ripe age, and art not wanting in experience of the things of this life. Tell me then if thou considerest that it wo

y small fortune, and a great many children; but if I were rich and without heirs, I would bury my gold in some corner of my garden, sooner than bestow it to gratify men who are either wicked or un

ad one," said Selim, "and I wi

e fresh and salubrious halls of his smiling abode. Hussein Muley, fatigued by two hours' walk under a broiling sun, threw himself upon a divan, whilst fruits and coffee were abundantly served to him. When he had somewhat reposed and refreshed himself, Selim said to him in a friendly manner, "I am happy to receive thee at my house, because thou art a wise man, and of good renown in thy profession. Thou hast travell

regarded Selim

marvellous thing. I have, as thou sayest, travelled, read, and seen life, but never yet h

it would be wrong to d

ditation, and looking all the while at the tips of his old slippers,

u muse?" at lengt

e who study science, and for those who are the fortunate possessors of great wealth; it would be equally good f

eeply upon a thing which all the

ve most frequently been instrumental in abridging it. My aim is to repair the wrongs they

Thou wouldst change the order of t

longer, and I consecrate all my days, my nights, and my studies to the pursuit of a discovery which is destined to prolong the existence of mankind, and renew the state of things as they were when men married at a hund

ied Selim, "the cedars and the palm t

h occupies me. Thou thyself, confess now, wouldst thou not be enchanted to see suns succeed suns

t love death, it is true; nevertheless life is not

ch thou despisest, or knowest not how to employ-this gold would in my hands contribute to the happiness of future generations. With gold-with gold you can purchase books of precious value, measure the stars, dig the bowels of the earth, rend metals from her bosom, decompose substances, in short, penetrate into every

ing my life for many centuries, I should not the

this moment it were said to thee, 'thou shalt die, or give up the whole of thy possessions,' wouldst t

at in such a case I should give u

avour to prolong thine own? Even if my profound science did not succeed, tho

ntinuing his discourse, gave himself up to meditation also; so that both these two men became absorbed in their own dre

rtune in making others happy. It will, I think, be no change of purpose, if I aid thee in pursuing those learned researches which tend to pro

s, gravely arose, followed Selim into another apartment in the hous

Selim, "and communicate to

ting all obstacles, of snatching from the past the secret which shall add hundreds of years to the existence of man, and prolong his days to the space of those of his fathers. Selim," ad

ed physician withdrew gravely, an

should confide to the sage mufti, whom he was soon about to see again, what he had done for Hussein Muley, and his hope of beholding the existence of the human species prolonged to an almost in

to Boudjaréah he was yellower, leaner, and more attenuated even than a man who had crossed on

len thee? art thou sick, or dost th

e stars, and the burning rays of the sun, and have often forgotten t

and the

. Thus far have I attained only, that I have secu

uley sorrowfully clasped his withered

to any other but myself, but it is far from satisfying

and wilt thou tell me what is necessary to be don

purpose, and to give thee this powder. It must be taken every morning

wn these directi

u shouldst rest satisfied with thy discovery, and begin to live well

ldren's children. For thou dost not imagine we shall at first give to every one for nothing this magnificent secret, which has cost us so much. It is this secret which will procure us the means of living in splendour to the end of our days. Thou canst, for hea

ertheless, I desire not to sell the powder, but may I besto

ur happy fortune; let us wait until my

see thee yellow, thin, an

rather have nothing but skin upon my bones, and keep my secret to myself. I shall soon regain my flesh and my complexion. No, my health

quire much?"

t, instead of living fifty years longer than the usual course of things, I

ke use of that, and afterwards follow my advice, and sell to some rich ma

rehead buried in his hands, and seemed not to listen to S

casket I have nothing more to give thee. There will only remain just sufficient for me, during the time that I hope to live, than

suddenly to come to h

d of the earth, and I will resolve the great problem which has occupied me for more than thirty years. Selim! Selim! entrust to my keeping what

to thee, Hussein Muley, that I have more than once regretted devoting my fortune to a discovery which may prove more fatal than useful to the world;

range smile. "Come," continued he, "do not disquiet thyself about what will some day h

casket proffered him by Selim, put it u

ia. There, near the Indies, is a high moun

nswered

mit, covered with perpetual snows, a plant, which

be found on those mountain tops cov

ve immediate need; I am going in quest of

aid Selim, and

retreated with

e year, three months, a week, and a day, and he began from the very next day to administ

tudies; but Selim never saw him more. He awaited his return, three, five, ten years, and, as he judged that ten years should suffice to go to Asia, and scale the

mind, an epidemic broke out in Al

onfidence which seizes men in the hour of danger, he opened his heart to him, and related how he had given tw

ked his venerable b

dently confided thy generous thoughts. This proves the truth of what I one day s

llowing the first impulse of my heart, for I had really the wish to do good,

time, if thou hadst, in accordance with my advice, reflected longer upon thy projects of benevolence, it is

it; then he prostrated himself devoutly before Allah, recovered his health by degrees, and caused a large sum of money to be distributed among the poor of the