That does ring a bell. I think it was either her sister that Sharhzad replaced, or it was that her father was going to refuse the king's demand for herself (and by implication be killed). Either way, she took on the peril to save another.
I remember another story from ancient Persia:
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Anooshiravan was a king who established a public hall of justice under the encouragement of his Vizier (the prime minister). It was agreed upon that he and his court would spend a few hours everyday in the hall listening to the grievances directly. The hall had a bell which was connected to a rope. The rope went all the way into the street so that anyone who wanted an audience with the king could pull it and be admitted in.
One day the bell is rang but no one comes in. The king sends a guard to check upon it who says there is no one in the streets. The bell is rang again and again the guards say there is no one out there. Suspecting that the guards may be blocking access to the audience, Anooshiravn sends out the grand vizier to bring in the victim.
The vizier goes out and notices the bell rings because an old astray donkey is chewing on the rope. He promptly brings in the animal. The vizier tells the king that justice should be bestowed upon all and the animals are no exception. So the king should hear from the donkey. Laughing, the king asks if the vizier wants to represent the donkey, which he does. Charges are filed against the donkey's owner and the farmer is brought in.
The vizier points out that the donkey has given years of service in return for next to nothing. And yet now that it is old and sick it is abandoned by an ungrateful owner. Hardly this is justice, he claims. The donkey must be taken care of. The farmer, quite embarrassed, agrees that such should be the case. However he points out that he is a poor man and cannot afford to take care of the animal.
So the king asks the farmer, "then is it only a matter of money for the food?"
- yes your majesty.
- so if you had the money you would tend to the donkey's wounds, feed him, and take good care of him?
- yes your majesty.
- Very well then. I hereby give you 20 gold coins for the job. Next year I will want to see this donkey in perfect health and well taken care of. Can you do that?
- for that much money, I will even teach him to read books and tell stories, answers the farmer.
- Excellent! Then bring in the donkey next year and make sure to bring a book so he can read it for us, the king jokes.
But the joke is lost on the farmer who thinks he must now teach the donkey to read. He goes home and discusses his plight with his daughter. She tells him not to worry because she can take care of it. The girl starts by nurturing the donkey back to health. Then she goes to the market and orders two books made of leather. Everyday she places some delicious food for the donkey between the pages of the first book and the donkey learns to flip the pages for the next treat.
At the end of the year, the farmer and his daughter take the donkey to the court. The day before the girl writes a great appreciation letter to the king in the second untouched leather book and makes sure the donkey has had nothing to eat. The farmer, his daughter, the leather book, and the donkey all go back to court.
Surprised to see them back, the king congratulates the farmer on bringing the donkey back to health. Jokingly the king asks, "but did you teach him to read and tell?" The farmer proceeds with placing the leather book in front of the donkey. The hungry animal flips the pages of the book to the end, looking for food.
At this the king cracks up laughing, looks at the donkey and says, "so what are you reading?"
Being upset not to have found any food between the pages, the donkey starts making noises.
Astonished that the donkey talks back, the king gives the farmer another 20 gold coins for a job well done and tells him there is another 20 if he truthfully tells him who has been teaching the donkey.
Impressed with resourcefulness of the girl, the king asks for her hand and marries her.
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I think there are many noteworthy elements to this story. Certainly I think this type of story does more for little girls than Cinderella. Perhaps that is why Iranian women have been very active in bringing change.
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