01 · Shahrazad’s plan
Long ago, there was a king named Shahryar.
Long ago, there was a king named Shahryar.
The king had become harsh and angry, and the people feared him.
The king had become harsh and angry, and the people feared him.
The young women of the city were in great danger.
The young women of the city were in great danger.
The vizier had a clever daughter named Shahrazad.
The vizier had a clever daughter named Shahrazad.
Shahrazad had read many books and learned poems and stories by heart.
Shahrazad had read many books and learned poems and stories by heart.
She said to her father, “Let me marry the king, for I have a plan.”
She said to her father, “Let me marry the king, for I have a plan.”
The vizier feared for his daughter, but she insisted.
The vizier feared for his daughter, but she insisted.
At night, her sister Dunyazad asked for a new story.
At night, her sister Dunyazad asked for a new story.
Shahrazad began the story, and the king listened closely.
Shahrazad began the story, and the king listened closely.
At dawn she stopped, so the king wanted to hear the rest the next night.
At dawn she stopped, so the king wanted to hear the rest the next night.
Saylumo retelling · Story of King Shahryar and his Brother (prologue) and the opening of the First Night · Prologue and Night 1 · Original Saylumo learner retelling of a tale from the Arabic literary tradition of Alf Layla wa-Layla (One Thousand and One Nights), a collection with diverse historical origins: it drew on Persian, Indian, Iraqi, Syrian and Egyptian storytelling, and some famous tales were first printed in Antoine Galland’s French version. It is not a translation or quotation of any historical text, and it does not claim that every tale originated in Arabic. · Source & license