Scheherazade op. 35 (1888)

The sultan Shakriar, convinced of the falshood and inconstancy of all women had sworn an oath to put to death each of his wives after the first night. However, the sultana Scheherazade saved her life by arousing his interest in the tales which she told him during 1001 nights. Driven by curiosity the sultan postponed her execution from day to day and at last abandoned his sanguinary design. Scheherazade told many miraculous stories to the sultan. For her tales she borrowed verses from the poets and words from folk songs combining fairy-tales with adventures.