Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early
Khalifiths. Translated from the Arabic, and Annotated, by Mrs. Godfrey Clerk. (H. S. King.)—Those who like stories full of the genuine colour and fragrance of the East should by all means road Mrs. Godfrey Clerk's volume. The stories themselves she found in the East, and though some of them, in substance at least, will be known to many readers, others will probably bo new. For the annotations, which carefully explain allusions, historical or other, she has con- sulted the best Western authorities. The whole, cleansed as it is of that Western varnish with which it was once fashionable to dress the literature of the East, is singularly interesting. These riders, warriors, and poets become "live human figures," to borrow the phrase which the translator quotes from Canon Kingsley. And they are not only human, but humane. The rulers, spiritual and temporal, of contem- porary Europe do not show well beside these early Khalifahs and their ministers. Here is the story of how Hurmuzan, the Persian, professed El-Islam:-
" Hurmuzan was brought bound as a prisoner into the presence of
the Commander of the Faithful, 'Omar Elm-el-Kliaitab, who called upon him to profess El-Islam. Upon his refusal to do so, 'Omar gave the order for his execution. But ho cried, '0 Commander of the Faithful ! before you kill me give mo a draught of water, and do not slay mo parched with thirst.' So 'Omar ordered some water for him, and so soon as Hurmuzfin had the goblet in his hand, lie asked, ' Am I safe until I shall have drunk it? ' To which 'Omar replied, Yes, safety is yours for that time.' Then Haim-mean flung the vessel away from him and spilt the water, and cried, Your promise, 0 Commander of the Faith- ful !' So 'Omar said to the executioner, Leave him, whilst I find out what is to be done with him.' And when the sword was removed from over him, Hurzuman exclaimed, testify that there is no God but
God, and that Muhammad is the prophet of God Then said 'Omar, 'Verily thou hest professed the best form of Muhammadan faith. What caused thy delay in doing it ? I feared,' he replied. that it might be reported I had professed El-Islam through fear of the sword,'—' Of a truth thou art wise in judgment,' said 'Omar, and art worthy of the dominion which thou beast.' And after that time 'Omar consulted him about the going-forth of his armies into Persia, and acted according to his advice."
In the story of "The Marriage of Queen Balkis with King Solomon, son of David," Mrs. Clerk goes beyond her subject, but no one will regret the digression. It is a magnificent example of the richness of Eastern fancy, not without its touches of humour, as, for instance, when Solomon tests the truth of the tale which the jinn have told him about Balkis having the feet of a donkey. (The jinn wore afraid that the children of the marriage would lord it over them for over.) The king made a house with a floor of glass, under which he put fish and frogs. And " he sat on his throne at the end of the house, and called Balkis to come in. And when she saw the water, and the fish, and the frogs, she knew not of the glass, and drew up her garments and exposed her feet; and the King knew that the jinn had lied."
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