Prologue

Long time ago, in the chronicles of the ancient Kings of Persia...
there lived a Sultan named
Shariar of Samarkand
Shariar had a wife whom he loved...
more than all the entire world,
and his greatest happiness was to surround her with splendour.
After several years...
Shariar became very disappointed with his wife's behaviour...
while he was away.
So he declared all the women unfaithful
and ordered to behead his wife.
Ahhh...
Huh...
Aaaaw...
The blow was so heavy that his mind almost gave way
and he declared that he was quite sure
that at bottom all the women
Where as wicked as the Sultana.
So every evening he married a fresh wife
and had her strangled the following morning before the grand Vizier.
His duty was to provide these unhappy brides for the Sultan.
The poor man fulfilled his task with reluctance.
This behavior caused the greatest horror in the town.
The grand Vizier himself was the father of two daughters,
of whom the elder was called Scheherazade,
and the younger Dunyazad.
Father, I have a favor to ask of you.
Will you grant it to me?
I can refuse you nothing that is just and reasonable.
I'm determined to stop this barbarous practice of the Sultan's
and to deliver the girls and mothers
from the awful fate that hangs over them.
It would be an excellent thing to do
but how do you propose to accomplish it?
My father it is you who have to provide the Sultan
daily with a fresh wife and I beg you
to allow the honor to fall upon me.
Have you lost your senses?
What has put such a thing into your head.
You ought to know by this time what it means to be the Sultan's bride.
Yes, my father
I know it well, and I'm not afraid to think of it.
If I fail, my death will be a glorious one,
and if I succeed I shall have done
a great service to my country
It is of no use.
I will not kill my own
daughter in the mornings light.
Once again, my father will you grant me what I ask.
What are you still obstinate?
Why are you so resolved about your own ruin?
But the maiden absolutely refused to attend to her father's words.
In despair the Vizer was obliged to give way,
and went sadly to the palace to tell the Sultan that the
following evening he will bring him Scheherazade.
The Sultan received the news with the greatest astonishment.
Let there be no mistake Vizer.
Remember you will have to take her life yourself,
if at all you refuse swear that your head shall pay forfeit.
Sir, whatever the cost I will obey you.
Though a father, I am also your subject.
So the Sultan told the grand Vizier,
he might bring his daughter as soon as he liked.
The Vizier took back this news to Scheherazade,
who received it as if it had been the most
pleasant thing in the world.
In the mean time Scheherazade asked her sister to do her a favour.
Today, I will be married to Sultan.
Tomorrow morning he will execute me.
Before this execution, I want you to help me.
After the marriage, I will request him to take you
with me which I think he should grant.
Your job is only to wake me up one hour before sunrise
and say...
Sister, if you are not asleep,
tell me one of your interesting stories.
Then I will start telling stories.
Hopefully, I will save my people thus.
Dunyazad replied that she would do with pleasure what her sister wished.
When the usual hour arrived the grand Vizier
conducted Scheherazade to the palace
and left her alone with the Sultan.
He bade her raise her veil
and was amazed at her beauty,
but seeing her eyes full of tears,
He asked:
What happened Sultana?
Sir, I have a sister who loves me as tenderly as I love her.
Grant me the favour of allowing her to
sleep this night in the same room,
as it is the last we shall be together.
Shariar consented to Scheherazade's petition
and Dunyazad was sent for.
An hour before the daybreak, Dunyazad awoke,
and exclaimed as she had promised.
My dear sister, if you are not asleep,
tell me one of your charming stories.
It is the last time that I shall have the pleasure of hearing you.
Will your highness permit me to do as my sisters asks?
Willingly.
And so Scheherazade began.