"There appeared before him an old man of venerable appearance" by Edmund Dulac (an illustration for "The Arabian Nights")

There appeared before him an old man of venerable appearance

Edmund Dulac, 1882-1953

1911

Photographic reproduction of watercolor.

Source: “The story of the wicked half-brothers” in Housman's Stories from the Arabian Nights

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[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the Internet Archive and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one. ]

Passage illustrated

IN the city of Harran there once lived a King who had every happiness which life and fortune could bestow save that he lacked an heir. Although, according to royal custom, he had in his house- hold fifty wives, fair to look upon and affectionate in disposition, and though he continually invoked on these unions the blessing of Heaven, still he remained childless ; for which cause all his joy was turned to affliction, and his wealth and power and magnificence became as of no account.

Now one night as he slept there appeared before him an old man of venerable appearance who, addressing him in mild accents, spoke thus ; 1 The prayer of the faithful among fifty has been heard. Arise, therefore, and go into the gardens of your palace and cause the gardener to bring you a pomegranate fully ripe. Eat as many of the seeds as you desire children, and your wish shall be fulfilled. [The story of the wicked half-brothers]

Bibliography

Housman, Laurence. Stories from the Arabian Nights. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1911. Internet Archive version of a copy in the New York Public Library. Web. 2 January 2013

Last modified 8 January 2013