THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN.

There was an aged fisherman, who was so poor, that he could

scarcely as much as would maintain himself, his wife, and three

children. He went every day to fish betimes in the morning; and

imposed it as a law upon himself, not to cast his nets above four

times a-day. He went one morning by moon-light, and coming to the

seaside, undressed himself, and cast in his nets. As he drew them

towards the shore, he found them very heavy, and thought he had a

good draught of fish, at which he rejoiced; but in a moment

after, perceiving that instead of fish his nets contained nothing

but the carcass of an ass, he was much vexed.

When the fisherman had mended his nets, which the carcass of the

ass had broken in several places, he threw them in a second time;

and when he drew them, found a great deal of resistance, which

made him think he had taken abundance of fish; but he found

nothing except a basket full of gravel and slime, which grieved

him extremely. "O fortune!" cried he, with a lamentable tone, "be

not angry with me, nor persecute a wretch who prays thee to spare

him. I came hither from my house to seek for my livelihood, and

thou pronouncest against me a sentence of death. I have no other

trade but this to subsist by: and notwithstanding all my care, I

can scarcely provide what is absolutely necessary for my family.

But I am to blame to complain of thee; thou takest pleasure to

persecute honest people, and to leave great men in obscurity,

while thou shewest favour to the wicked, and advancest those who

have no virtue to recommend them."

Having finished this complaint, he fretfully threw away the

basket, and washing his nets from the slime, cast them the third

time; but brought up nothing, except stones, shells, and mud. No

language can express his disappointment; he was almost

distracted. However, when day began to appear, he did not forget

to say his prayers, like a good Moosulmaun, and he added to them

this petition: "Lord, thou knowest that I cast my nets only four

times a day; I have already drawn them three times, without the

least reward for my labour: I am only to cast them once more; I

pray thee to render the sea favourable to me, as thou didst to

Moses "

The fisherman having finished this prayer, cast his nets the

fourth time; and when he thought it was proper, drew them as

formerly, with great difficulty; but instead of fish, found

nothing in them but a vessel of yellow copper, which from its

weight seemed not to be empty; and he observed that it was shut

up and sealed with lead, having the impression of a seal upon it.

This turn of fortune rejoiced him; "I will sell it," said he, "to

the founder, and with the money buy a measure of corn." He

examined the vessel on all sides, and shook it, to try if its

contents made any noise, but heard nothing. This circumstance,

with the impression of the seal upon the leaden cover, made him

think it inclosed something precious. To try this, he took a

knife, and opened it with very little labour. He turned the mouth

downward, but nothing came out; which surprised him extremely. He

placed it before him, but while he viewed it attentively, there

came out a very thick smoke, which obliged him to retire two or

three paces back.

The smoke ascended to the clouds, and extending itself along the

sea and upon the shore formed a great mist, which we may well

imagine filled the fisherman with astonishment. When the smoke

was all out of the vessel, it re-united and became a solid body,

of which was formed a genie twice as high as the greatest of

giants. At the sight of a monster of such an unwieldy bulk, the

fisherman would fain have fled, but was so frightened, that he

could not move.

"Solomon," cried the genie immediately, "Solomon, the great

prophet, pardon, pardon; I will never more oppose your will, I

will obey all your commands."

When the fisherman heard these words of the genie, he recovered

his courage, and said to him, "Thou proud spirit, what is it you

say? It is above eighteen hundred years since the prophet Solomon

died, and we are now at the end of time. Tell me your history,

and how you came to be shut up in this vessel."

The genie turning to the fisherman, with a fierce look, said.

"Thou must speak to me with more respect; thou art a presumptuous

fellow to call me a proud spirit." "Very well," replied the

fisherman, "shall I speak to you more civilly, and call you the

owl of good luck?" "I say," answered the genie, "speak to me more

respectfully, or I will kill thee." "Ah!" replied the fisherman,

"why would you kill me? Did I not just now set you at liberty,

and have you already forgotten my services?" "Yes, I remember

it," said the genie, "but that shall not save thy life: I have

only one favour to grant thee." "And what is that?" asked the

fisherman. "It is," answered the genie, "to give thee thy choice,

in what manner thou wouldst have me put thee to death." "But

wherein have I offended you?" demanded the fisherman. "Is that

your reward for the service I have rendered you?" "I cannot treat

thee otherwise," said the genie; "and that thou mayest know the

reason, hearken to my story."

"I am one of those rebellious spirits that opposed the will of

heaven; nearly all the other genies owned Solomon, the great

prophet, and yielded to his authority. Sabhir and I were the only

two that would never be guilty of a mean submission: and to

avenge himself, that great monarch sent Asaph, the son of

Barakhia, his chief minister, to apprehend me. That was

accordingly done. Asaph seized my person, and brought me by force

before his master's throne.

"Solomon, the son of David, commanded me to acknowledge his

power, and to submit to his commands: I bravely refused, and told

him, I would rather expose myself to his resentment, than swear

fealty as he required. To punish me, he shut me up in this copper

vessel; and that I might not break my prison, he himself stamps

upon this leaden cover, his seal with the great name of God

engraver upon it. He then gave the vessel to one of the genies

who had submitted, with orders to throw me into the sea, which to

my sorrow were executed.

"During the first hundred years of my imprisonment, I swore that

if any one should deliver me before the expiration of that

period, I would make him rich, even after his death: but that

century ran out, and nobody did me that good office. During the

second, I made an oath, that I would open all the treasures of

the earth to any one that might set me at liberty; but with no

better success. In the third, I promised to make my deliverer a

potent monarch, to be always near him in spirit, and to grant him

every day three requests, of what nature soever they might be:

but this century passed as well as the two former, and I

continued in prison. At last being angry, or rather mad, to find

myself a prisoner so long, I swore, that if afterwards any one

should deliver me, I would kill him without mercy, and grant him

no other favour but to choose the manner of his death; and

therefore, since thou hast delivered me to-day, I give thee that

choice."

This discourse afflicted the fisherman extremely: "I am very

unfortunate," cried he, "to come hither to do such a kindness to

one that is so ungrateful. I beg you to consider your injustice,

and revoke such an unreasonable oath; pardon me, and heaven will

pardon you; if you grant me my life, heaven will protest you from

all attempts against your own." "No, thy death is resolved on,"

said the genie, "only choose in what manner you will die." The

fisherman perceiving the genie to be resolute, was extremely

grieved, not so much for himself, as on account of his three

children; and bewailed the misery they must be reduced to by his

death. He endeavoured still to appease the genie, and said,

"Alas! be pleased to take pity on me, in consideration of the

service I have done you." "I have told thee already," replied the

genie, "it is for that very reason I must kill thee." "That is

strange," said the fisherman, "are you resolved to reward good

with evil? The proverb says, ‘That he who does good to one who

deserves it not is always ill rewarded.' I must confess, I

thought it was false; for certainly there can be nothing more

contrary to reason, or the laws of society. Nevertheless, I find

now by cruel experience that it is but too true." "Do not lose

time," interrupted the genie; "all thy reasonings shall not

divert me from my purpose: make haste, and tell me what kind of

death thou preferest?"

Necessity is the mother of invention. The fisherman bethought

himself of a stratagem. "Since I must die then," said he to the

genie, "I submit to the will of heaven; but before I choose the

manner of my death, I conjure you by the great name which was

engraver upon the seal of the prophet Solomon, the son of David,

to answer me truly the question I am going to ask you."

The genie finding himself obliged to a positive answer by this

adjuration, trembled; and replied to the fisherman, "Ask what

thou wilt, but make haste."

The fisherman then said to him, "I wish to know if you were

actually in this vessel: Dare you swear it by the name of the

great God?" "Yes," replied the genie, "I do swear by that great

name, that I was." "In good faith," answered the fisherman, "I

cannot believe you; the vessel is not capable of holding one of

your size, and how should it be possible that your whole body

should lie in it?" "I swear to thee, notwithstanding," replied

the genie, "that I was there just as you see me here: Is it

possible, that thou cost not believe me after the solemn oath I

have taken?" "Truly not I," said the fisherman; "nor will I

believe you, unless you go into the vessel again."

Upon which the body of the genie dissolved and changed itself

into smoke, extending as before upon the sea shore; and at last,

being collected, it began to re-enter the vessel, which it

continued to do by a slow and equal motion, till no part remained

out; when immediately a voice came forth, which said to the

fisherman, "Well now, incredulous fellow, I am in the vessel, do

not you believe me now?"

The fisherman, instead of answering the genie, took the cover of

lead, and having speedily replaced it on the vessel, "Genie,"

cried he, "now it is your turn to beg my favour, and to choose

which way I shall put you to death; but not so, it is better that

I should throw you into the sea, whence I took you: and then I

will build a house upon the shore, where I will reside and give

notice to all fishermen who come to throw in their nets, to

beware of such a wicked genie as thou art, who hast made an oath

to kill him that shall set thee at liberty."

The genie, enraged at these expressions, struggled to set himself

at liberty; but it was impossible, for the impression of

Solomon's seal prevented him. Perceiving that the fisherman had

got the advantage of him, for he thought fit to dissemble his

anger; "Fishermen," said he, "take heed you do not what you

threaten; for what I spoke to you was only by way of jest." "O

genie!" replied the fisherman, "thou who wast but a moment ago

the greatest of all genies, and now art the least of them, thy

crafty discourse will signify nothing, to the sea thou shalt

return. If thou hast been there already so long as thou hast told

me, thou may'st very well stay there till the day of judgment. I

begged of thee in God's name not to take away my life, and thou

didst reject my prayers; I am obliged to treat thee in the same

manner."

The genie omitted nothing that he thought likely to prevail with

the fisherman: "Open the vessel," said he, "give me my liberty,

and I promise to satisfy thee to thy own content." "Thou art a

traitor," replied the fisherman, "I should deserve to lose my

life, if I were such a fool as to trust thee: thou wilt not fail

to treat me in the same manner as a certain Grecian king treated

the physician Douban. It is a story I have a mind to tell thee,

therefore listen to it."

The Story of the Grecian King and the Physician Douban.

There was in the country of Yunaun or Greece, a king who was

leprous, and his physicians had in vain endeavoured his cure;

when a very able physician, named Douban, arrived at his court.

This physician had learnt the theory of his profession in Greek,

Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Latin, Syriac, and Hebrew books; he was

an experienced natural philosopher, and fully understood the good

and bad qualities of plants and drugs. As soon as he was informed

of the king's distemper, and understood that his physicians had

given him over, he found means to present himself before him. "I

know," said he, after the usual ceremonials, "that your majesty's

physicians have not been able to heal you of the leprosy; but if

you will accept my service, I will engage to cure you without

potions, or external applications."

The king listened to what he said, and answered, "If you be able

to perform what you promise, I will enrich you and your

posterity. Do you assure me that you will cure my leprosy without

potion, or applying any external medicine?" "Yes, Sire," replied

the physician, "I promise myself success, through God's

assistance, and to-morrow, with your majesty's permission, I will

make the trial."

The physician returned to his quarters, made a hollow mace, and

at the handle he put in his drugs; he made also a ball in such a

manner as suited his purpose, with which next morning he

presented himself before the king, and falling down at his feet,

kissed the ground.

The physician Douban rose up, and after a profound reverence,

said to the king, he judged it meet that his majesty should take

horse, and go to the place where he used to play at mall. The

king did so, and when he arrived there, the physician came to him

with the mace, and said, "Exercise yourself with this mace, and

strike the ball until you find your hands and body perspire. When

the medicine I have put up in the handle of the mace is heated

with your hand, it will penetrate your whole body; and as soon as

you perspire, you may leave off the exercise, for then the

medicine will have had its effect. Immediately on your return to

your palace, go into the bath, and cause yourself to be well

washed and rubbed; then retire to bed, and when you rise to-

morrow you will find yourself cured."

The king took the mace, and struck the ball, which was returned

by his officers who played with him; he played so long, that his

hands and his whole body were in a sweat, and then the medicine

shut up in the handle of the mace had its operation, as the

physician had said. Upon this the king left off play, returned to

his palace, entered the bath, and observed very exactly his

physician had prescribed to him.

The next morning when he arose, he perceived with equal wonder

and joy, that his leprosy was cured, and his body as clean as if

it had never been affected. As soon as he was dressed, he came

into the hall of audience, where he ascended his throne, and

shewed himself to his courtiers: who, eager to know the success

of the new medicine, came thither betimes, and when they saw the

king perfectly cured, expressed great joy. The physician Douban

entering the hall, bowed himself before the throne, with his face

to the ground. The king perceiving him, made him sit down by his

side, presented him to the assembly, and gave him all the

commendation he deserved. His majesty did not stop here: but as

he treated all his court that day, made him eat at his table

alone with him.

The Grecian king was not satisfied with having admitted the

physician Douban to his table, but caused him to be clad in a

rich robe, ordered him two thousand pieces of gold, and thinking

that he could never sufficiently acknowledge his obligations to

him, continued every day to load him with new favours. But this

king had a vizier, who was avaricious, envious, and naturally

capable of every kind of mischief. He could not behold without

envy the presents that were given to the physician, whose other

merits had already begun to make him jealous, and he therefore

resolved to lessen him in the king's esteem. To effect this, he

went to the king, and told him in private, that he had some

information of the greatest consequence to communicate. The king

having asked what it was? "Sire," said he, "it is highly

dangerous for a monarch to confide in a man whose fidelity he has

never tried. Though you heap favours upon the physician Douban,

your majesty does not know that he is a traitor, sent by your

enemies to take away your life." "From whom," demanded the king,

"have you the suggestion which you dare pronounce? Consider to

whom you are speaking, and that you are advancing what I shall

not easily believe." "Sire," replied the vizier, "I am well

informed of what I have had the honour to reveal to your majesty;

therefore do not rest in dangerous security: if your majesty be

asleep, be pleased to awake; for I once more repeat, that the

physician Douban left his native country, and came to settle

himself at your court, for the sole purpose of executing the

horrible design which I have intimated."

"No, no, vizier," interrupted the king; "I am certain, that this

physician, whom you suspect to be a villain and a traitor, is one

of the best and most virtuous of men. You know by what medicine,

or rather by what miracle, he cured me of my leprosy: If he had

had a design upon my life, why did he save me then? He needed

only to have left me to my disease; I could not have escaped it,

as life was fast decaying. Forbear then to fill me with unjust

suspicions: instead of listening to you, I tell you, that from

this day forward I will give that great man a pension of a

thousand pieces of gold per month for his life; nay, though I

were to share with him all my riches and dominions, I should

never pay him sufficiently for what he has done. I perceive it to

be his virtue that raises your envy; but do not think I will be

unjustly prejudiced against him. I remember too well what a

vizier said to king Sinbad, his master, to prevent his putting to

death the prince his son."

What the Grecian king said about king Sinbad raised the vizier's

curiosity, who said, "I pray your majesty to pardon me, if I have

the boldness to ask what the vizier of king Sinbad said to his

master to divert him from putting the prince his son to death."

The Grecian king had the condescension to satisfy him: "That

vizier," said he, "after having represented to king Sinbad, that

he ought to beware, lest on the accusation of a mother-in-law he

should commit an action of which he might afterwards repent, told

him this story."

The Story of the Husband and the Parrot.

A certain man had a beautiful wife, whom he loved so dearly, that

he could scarcely allow her to be out of his sight. One day, some

urgent affairs obliging him to go from home, he went to a place

where all sorts of birds were sold, and bought a parrot, which

not only spoke well, but could also give an account of every

thing that was done in its presence. He brought it in a cage to

his house, desired his wife to put it in his chamber, and take

care of it during his absence, and then departed.

On his return, he questioned the parrot concerning what had

passed while he was from home, and the bird told him such things

as gave him occasion to upbraid his wife. She concluded some of

her slaves had betrayed her, but all of them swore they had been

faithful, and agreed that the parrot must have been the tell-

tale.

Upon this, the wife began to devise how she might remove her

husband's jealousy, and at the same time revenge herself on the

parrot. Her husband being gone another journey, she commanded a

slave in the night-time to turn a hand-mill under the parrot's

cage; she ordered another to sprinkle water, in resemblance of

rain, over the cage; and a third to move a looking-glass,

backward and forward against a candle, before the parrot. The

slaves spent a great part of the night in doing what their

mistress desired them, and acquitted themselves with much skill.

Next night the husband returned, and examined the parrot again

about what had passed during his absence. The bird answered,

"Good master, the lightning, thunder, and rain so much disturbed

me all night, that I cannot tell how much I suffered." The

husband, who knew that there had been neither thunder, lightning,

nor rain in the night, fancied that the parrot, not having spoken

truth in this, might also have lied in the other relation; upon

which he took it out of the cage, and threw it with so much force

to the ground that he killed it. Yet afterwards he understood

from his neigbours, that the poor parrot had not deceived him in

what it had stated of his wife's base conduct, made him repent

that he had killed it.

When the Grecian king had finished the story of the parrot, he

added, "And you, vizier, because of the hatred you bear to the

physician Douban, who never did you any injury, you would have me

cut him off; but I will beware lest I should repent as the

husband did after killing his parrot."

The mischievous vizier was too desirous of effecting the ruin of

the physician Douban to stop here. "Sir," said he, "the death of

the parrot was but a trifle, and I believe his master did not

mourn for him long: but why should your fear of wronging an

innocent man, hinder your putting this physician to death? Is it

not sufficient justification that he is accused of a design

against your life? When the business in question is to secure the

life of a king, bare suspicion ought to pass for certainty; and

it is better to sacrifice the innocent than to spare the guilty.

But, Sir, this is not a doubtful case; the physician Douban has

certainly a mind to assassinate you. It is not envy which makes

me his enemy; it is only my zeal, with the concern I have for

preserving your majesty's life, that makes me give you my advice

in a matter of this importance. If the accusation be false, I

deserve to be punished in the same manner as a vizier formerly

was." "What had the vizier done," demands the Grecian king, "to

deserve punishment?" "I will inform your majesty," said the

vizier, "if you will be pleased to hear me."

The Story of the Vizier that was Punished.

There was a king who had a son that loved hunting. He allowed him

to pursue that diversion often; but gave orders to his grand

vizier always to attend him.

One hunting day, the huntsman having roused a deer, the prince,

who thought the vizier followed him, pursued the game so far, and

with so much earnestness, that he separated himself from the

company. Perceiving he had lost his way he stopped, and

endeavoured to return to the vizier; but not knowing the country

he wandered farther.

Whilst he was thus riding about, he met on his way a handsome

lady, who wept bitterly. He stopped his horse, and enquired who

she was, how she came to be alone in that place, and what she

wanted. "I am," replied she, "the daughter of an Indian king. As

I was taking the air on horseback, in the country, I grew sleepy,

and fell from my horse, who is run away, and I know not what is

become of him." The young prince taking compassion on her,

requested her to get up behind him, which she willingly did.

As they were passing by the ruins of a house, the lady expressed

a desire to alight. The prince stopped, and having put her down,

dismounted himself, and went near the building, leading his horse

after him. But you may judge how much he was surprised, when he

heard the pretended lady utter these words: "Be glad, my

children, I bring you a young man for your repast;" and other

voices, which answered immediately, "Where is he, for we are very

hungry?"

The prince heard enough to convince him of his danger. He

perceived that the lady, who called herself the daughter of an

Indian king, was one of those savage demons, called Gholes, who

live in desolated places, and employ a thousand wiles to surprise

passengers, whom they afterwards devour. The prince instantly

remounted his horse, and luckily escaped.

The pretended princess appeared that very moment, and perceiving

she had missed her prey, exclaimed, "Fear nothing, prince: Who

are you? Whom do you seek?" "I have lost my way," replied he,

"and am endeavouring to find it." "If you have lost your way,"

said she, "recommend yourself to God, he will deliver you out of

your perplexity."

After the counterfeit Indian princess had bidden the young prince

recommend himself to God, he could not believe she spoke

sincerely, but thought herself sure of him; and therefore lifting

up his hands to heaven, said, "Almighty Lord, cast shine eyes

upon me, and deliver me from this enemy." After this prayer, the

ghole entered the ruins again, and the prince rode off with all

possible haste. He happily found his way, and arrived safe at the

court of his father, to whom he gave a particular account of the

danger he had been in through the vizier's neglect: upon which

the king, being incensed against that minister, ordered him to be

immediately strangled.

"Sir," continued the Grecian king's vizier, "to return to the

physician Douban, if you do not take care, the confidence you put

in him will be fatal to you; I am very well assured that he is a

spy sent by your enemies to attempt your majesty's life. He has

cured you, you will say: but alas! who can assure you of that? He

has perhaps cured you only in appearance, and not radically; who

knows but the medicine he has given you, may in time have

pernicious effects?"

The Grecian king was not able to discover the wicked design of

his vizier, nor had he firmness enough to persist in his first

opinion. This discourse staggered him: "Vizier," said he, "thou

art in the right; he may be come on purpose to take away my life,

which he may easily do by the smell of his drugs."

When the vizier found the king in such a temper as he wished,

"Sir," said he, "the surest and speediest method you can take to

secure your life, is to send immediately for the physician

Douban, and order his head to be struck off." "In truth," said

the king, "I believe that is the way we must take to frustrate

his design." When he had spoken thus, he called for one of his

officers, and ordered him to go for the physician; who, knowing

nothing of the king's purpose, came to the palace in haste.

"Knowest thou," said the king, when he saw him, "why I sent for

thee?" "No, Sir," answered he; "I wait till your majesty be

pleased to inform me." "I sent for thee," replied the king, "to

rid myself of thee, by taking away thy life."

No man can express the surprise of the physician, when he heard

the sentence of death pronounced against him. "Sir," said he,

"why would your majesty take my life? What crime have I

committed?" "I am informed," replied the king, "that you came to

my court only to attempt my life; but to prevent you, I will be

sure of yours. Give the blow," said he to the executioner, who

was present, "and deliver me from a perfidious wretch, who came

hither on purpose to assassinate me."

When the physician heard this cruel order, he readily judged that

the honours and presents he had received from the king had

procured him enemies, and that the weak prince was imposed on. He

repented that he had cured him of his leprosy; but it was now too

late. "Is it thus," asked the physician, "that you reward me for

curing you?" The king would not hearken to him, but a second time

ordered the executioner to strike the fatal blow. The physician

then had recourse to his prayers; "Alas, Sir," cried he, "prolong

my days, and God will prolong yours; do not put me to death, lest

God treat you in the same manner."

The fisherman broke off his discourse here, to apply it to the

genie. "Well, genie," said he, "you see that what passed betwixt

the Grecian king and his physician Douban is acted just now by

us."

The Grecian king, continued he, instead of having regard to the

prayers of the physician, who begged him to spare his life,

cruelly replied, "No, no; I must of necessity cut you off,

otherwise you may assassinate with as much art as you cured me."

The physician, without bewailing himself for being so ill

rewarded by the king, prepared for death. The executioner tied

his hands, and was going to draw his cimeter.

The courtiers who were present, being moved with compassion,

begged the king to pardon him, assuring his majesty that he was

not guilty of the crime laid to his charge, and that they would

answer for his innocence: but the king was inflexible.

The physician being on his knees, his eyes tied up, and ready to

receive the fatal blow, addressed himself once more to the king:

"Sir," said he, "since your majesty will not revoke the sentence

of death, I beg, at least, that you would give me leave to return

to my house, to give orders about my burial, to bid farewell to

my family, to give alms, and to bequeath my books to those who

are capable of making good use of them. I have one particularly I

would present to your majesty; it is a very precious book, and

worthy of being laid up carefully in your treasury." "What is

it," demanded the king, "that makes it so valuable?" "Sir,"

replied the physician, "it possesses many singular and curious

properties; of which the chief is, that if your majesty will give

yourself the trouble to open it at the sixth leaf, and read the

third line of the left page, my head, after being cut off, will

answer all the questions you ask it." The king being curious,

deferred his death till next day, and sent him home under a

strong guard.

The physician, during that time, put his affairs in order; and

the report being spread, that an unheard of prodigy was to happen

after his death, the viziers, emirs, officers of the guard, and,

in a word, the whole court, repaired next day to the hall of

audience, that they might be witnesses of it.

The physician Douban was brought in, and advancing to the foot of

the throne, with a book in his hand, he called for a basin, and

laid upon it the cover in which the book was wrapped; then

presenting the book to the king, "Take this," said he, "and after

my head is cut off, order that it be put into the basin upon that

cover; as soon as it is placed there, the blood will stop; then

open the book, and my head will answer your questions. But permit

me once more to implore your majesty's clemency; for God's sake

grant my request, I protest to you that I am innocent." "Your

prayers," answered the king, "are in vain; and were it for

nothing but to hear your head speak after your death, it is my

will you should die." As he said this, he took the book out of

the physician's hand, and ordered the executioner to do his duty.

The head was so dexterously cut off that it fell into the basin,

and was no sooner laid upon the cover of the book than the blood

stopped; then to the great surprise of the king, and all the

spectators, its eyes, and said, "Sir, will your majesty be

pleased to open the book?" The king proceeded to do so; but

finding that the leaves adhered to each other, that he might turn

them with more ease, he put his finger to his mouth, and wetted

it with spittle. He did thus till he came to the sixth leaf, and

finding no writing on the place where he was desired to look for

it, "Physician," said he, "there is nothing written." "Turn over

some more leaves," replied the head. The king went on, putting

always his finger to his mouth, until the poison with which each

leaf was imbued, coming to have its effect, the prince found

himself suddenly taken with an extraordinary fit, his eye-sight

failed, and he fell down at the foot of the throne in violent

convulsions.

When the physician Douban, or rather his head, saw that the

poison had taken effect, and that the king had but a few moments

to live; "Tyrant," it cried, "now you see how princes are

treated, who, abusing their authority, cut off innocent men: God

punishes soon or late their injustice and cruelty." Scarcely had

the head spoken these words, when the king fell down dead, and

the head itself lost what life it had.

As soon as the fisherman had concluded the history of the Greek

king and his physician Douban, he made the application to the

genie, whom he still kept shut up in the vessel. "If the Grecian

king," said he, "had suffered the physician to live, God would

have continued his life also; but he rejected his most humble

prayers, and the case is the same with thee, O genie! Could I

have prevailed with thee to grant me the favour I supplicated, I

should now take pity on thee; but since, notwithstanding the

extreme obligation thou west under to me, for having set thee at

liberty, thou didst persist in thy design to kill me, I am

obliged, in my turn, to be equally hard-hearted to thee."

"My good friend fisherman," replied the genie, "I conjure thee

once more, not to be guilty of such cruelty; consider, that it is

not good to avenge one's self, and that on the other hand, it is

commendable to do good for evil; do not treat me as Imama

formerly treated Ateca." "And what did Imama to Ateca?" enquired

the fisherman. "Ho!" says the genie, "if you have a mind to be

informed, open the vessel: do you think that I can be in an

humour to relate stories in so strait a prison? I will tell you

as many as you please, when you have let me out." "No," said the

fisherman, "I will not let thee out; it is in vain to talk of it;

I am just going to throw thee into the bottom of the sea." "Hear

me one word more," cried the genie; "I promise to do thee no

hurt; nay, far from that, I will shew thee a way to become

exceedingly rich."

The hope of delivering himself from poverty, prevailed with the

fisherman. "I could listen to thee," said he, "were there any

credit to be given to thy word; swear to me by the great name of

God, that you will faithfully perform what you promise, and I

will open the vessel; I do not believe you will dare to break

such an oath."

The genie swore to him, upon which the fisherman immediately took

off the covering of the vessel. At that instant the smoke

ascended, and the genie having resumed his form, the first thing

he did was to kick the vessel into the sea. This action alarmed

the fisherman. "Genie," said he, "will not you keep the oath you

just now made? And must I say to you, as the physician Douban

said to the Grecian king, suffer me to live, and God will prolong

your days."

The genie laughed at the fisherman's fear, and answered, "No,

fisherman, be not afraid, I only did it to divert myself, and to

see if thou wouldst be alarmed at it: but to convince thee that I

am in earnest, take thy nets and follow me." As he spoke these

words, he walked before the fisherman, who having taken up his

nets, followed him, but with some distrust. They passed by the

town, and came to the top of a mountain, from whence they

descended into a vast plain, which brought them to a lake, that

lay betwixt four hills.

When they reached the side of the lake, the genie said to the

fisherman, "Cast in thy nets, and catch fish; "the fisherman did

not doubt of taking some, because he saw a great number in the

water; but he was extremely surprised, when he found they were of

four colours, that is to say, white, red, blue, and yellow. He

threw in his nets, and brought out one of each colour. Having

never seen the like before, he could not but admire them, and

judging that he might get a considerable sum for them, he was

very joyful. "Carry those fish," said the genie to him, "and

present them to thy sultan; he will give thee more money for

them. Thou mayest come every day to fish in this lake; but I give

thee warning not to throw in thy nets above once a day, otherwise

thou wilt repent." Having spoken thus, he struck his foot upon

the ground, which opened, and after it had swallowed him up

closed again.

The fisherman being resolved to follow the genie's advice,

forbore casting in his nets a second time; and returned to the

town very well satisfied; and making a thousand reflections upon

his adventure. He went immediately to the sultan's palace, to

offer his fish.

The sultan was much surprised, when he saw the four fish which

the fisherman presented. He took them up one after another, and

viewed them with attention; and after having admired them a long

time, "Take those fish," said he to his vizier, "and carry them

to the cook, whom the emperor of the Greeks has sent me. I cannot

imagine but that they must be as good as they are beautiful."

The vizier, carried them as he was directed, and delivering them

to the cook, said, "Here are four fish just brought to the

sultan; he orders you to dress them:" he then returned to the

sultan his master, who ordered him to give the fisherman four

hundred pieces of gold of the coin of that country, which he did

accordingly.

The fisherman, who had never seen so much money, could scarcely

believe his good fortune, but thought the whole must be a dream,

until he found it otherwise, by being able to provide necessaries

for his family with the produce of his fish.

As soon as the sultan's cook had gutted the fish, she put them

upon the fire in a frying-pan, with oil, and when she thought

them fried enough on one side, she turned them upon the other;

but, O monstrous prodigy! scarcely were they turned, when the

wall of the kitchen divided, and a young lady of wonderful beauty

entered from the opening. She was clad in flowered satin, after

the Egyptian manner, with pendants in her ears, a necklace of

large pearls, and bracelets of gold set with rubies, with a rod

in her hand. She moved towards the frying-pan, to the great

amazement of the cook, who continued fixed by the sight, and

striking one of the fish with the end of the rod, said, "Fish,

fish, are you in duty?" The fish having answered nothing, she

repeated these words, and then the four fish lifted up their

heads, and replied, "Yes, yes: if you reckon, we reckon; if you

pay your debts, we pay ours; if you fly, we overcome, and are

content." As soon as they had finished these words, the lady

overturned the frying-pan, and returned into the open part of the

wall, which closed immediately, and became as it was before.

The cook was greatly frightened at what had happened, and coming

a little to herself, went to take up the fish that had fallen on

the hearth, but found them blacker than coal, and not fit to be

carried to the sultan. This grievously troubled her, and she fell

to weeping most bitterly. "Alas!" said she, "what will become of

me? If I tell the sultan what I have seen, I am sure he will not

believe me, but will be enraged against me."

While she was thus bewailing herself, the grand vizier entered,

and asked her if the fish were ready? She told him all that had

occurred, which we may easily imagine astonished him; but without

speaking a word of it to the sultan, he invented an excuse that

satisfied him, and sending immediately for the fisherman, bid him

bring four more such fish, for a misfortune had befallen the

others, so that they were not fit to be carried to the sultan.

The fisherman, without saying any thing of what the genie had

told him, in order to excuse himself from bringing them that day,

told the vizier, he had a great way to go for them, but would

certainly bring them on the morrow.

Accordingly the fisherman went away by night, and coming to the

lake, threw in his nets betimes next morning, took four fish like

the former, and brought them to the vizier, at the hour

appointed. The minister took them himself, carried them to the

kitchen, and shutting himself up with the cook, she gutted them,

and put them on the fire, as she had done the four others the day

before. When they were fried on one side, and she had turned them

upon the other, the kitchen wall again opened, and the same lady

came in with the rod in her hand, struck one of the fish, spoke

to it as before, and all four gave her the same answer.

After the four fish had answered the young lady, she overturned

the frying-pan with her rod, and retired into the wall. The grand

vizier, being witness to what had passed: "This is too wonderful

and extraordinary," said he, "to be concealed from the sultan; I

will inform him of this prodigy."

The sultan, being much surprised, sent immediately for the

fisherman, and said to him, "Friend, cannot you bring me four

more such fish?" The fisherman replied, "If your majesty will be

pleased to allow me three days, I will do it." Having obtained

his time, he went to the lake immediately, and at the first

throwing in of his net, he caught four fish, and brought them

directly to the sultan; who was so much the more rejoiced, as he

did not expect them so soon, and ordered him four hundred pieces

of gold. As soon as the sultan had the fish, he ordered them to

be carried into his closet, with all that was necessary for

frying them; and having shut himself up with the vizier, the

minister gutted them, put them into the pan, and when they were

fried on one side, turned them upon the other; then the wall of

the closet opened, but instead of the young lady, there came out

a black, in the habit of a slave, and of a gigantic stature, with

a great green staff in his hand. He advanced towards the pan, and

touching one of the fish with his staff, said with a terrible

voice, "Fish, are you in your duty?" At these words, the fish

raised up their heads, and answered, "Yes, yes; we are: if you

reckon, we reckon; if you pay your debts, we pay ours; if you

fly, we overcome, and are content."

The fish had no sooner finished these words, than the black threw

the pan into the middle of the closet, and reduced the fish to a

coal. Having done this, he retired fiercely, and entering again

into the aperture, it closed, and the wall appeared just as it

did before.

"After what I have seen," said the sultan to the vizier, "it will

not be possible for me to be easy: these fish, without doubt,

signify something extraordinary." He sent for the fisherman, and

when he came, said to him, "Fisherman, the fish you have brought

us, make me very uneasy; where did you catch them?" "Sir,"

answered he, "I fished for them in a lake situated betwixt four

hills, beyond the mountain that we see from hence." "Knowst thou

not that lake?" said the sultan to the vizier. "No," replied the

vizier. "I never so much as heard of it, although I have for

sixty years hunted beyond that mountain." The sultan asked the

fisherman, how far the lake might be from the palace? The

fisherman answered, it was not above three hours journey; upon

this assurance, the sultan commanded all his court to take horse,

and the fisherman served them for a guide. They all ascended the

mountain, and at the foot of it they saw, to their great

surprise, a vast plain, that nobody had observed till then, and

at last they came to the lake, which they found to be situated

betwixt four hills as the fisherman had described. The water was

so transparent, that they observed all the fish to be like those

which the fisherman had brought to the palace.

The sultan stood upon the bank of the lake, and after beholding

the fish with admiration, demanded of his courtiers, if it were

possible they had never seen this lake, which was within so short

a distance of the town. They all answered, that they had never so

much as heard of it.

"Since you all agree that you never heard of it, and as I am no

less astonished than you are, at this novelty, I am resolved not

to return to my palace till I learn how this lake came here, and

why all the fish in it are of four colours." Having spoken thus,

he ordered his court to encamp; and immediately his pavilion and

the tents of his household were planted upon the banks of the

lake.

When night came, the sultan retired under his pavilion, and spoke

to the grand vizier. thus: "Vizier, my mind is uneasy: this lake

transported hither; the black that appeared to us in my closet,

and the fish that we heard speak; all these things so much excite

my curiosity, that I cannot resist my impatient desire to have it

satisfied. To this end, I am resolved to withdraw alone from the

camp, and I order you to keep my absence secret: stay in my

pavilion, and to-morrow morning, when the emirs and courtiers

come to attend my levee, send them away, and tell them, that I am

somewhat indisposed, and wish to be alone; and the following days

tell them the same thing, till I return."

The grand vizier. endeavoured to divert the sultan from this

design; he represented to him the danger to which he might be

exposed, and that all his labour might perhaps be in vain: but it

was to no purpose; the sultan was resolved. He put on a suit fit

for walking, and took his cimeter; and as soon as he found that

all was quiet in the camp, went out alone, and passed over one of

the hills without much difficulty; he found the descent still

more easy, and when he came to the plain, walked on till the sun

arose, and then he saw before him, at a considerable distance, a

vast building. He rejoiced at the sight, in hopes of receiving

there the information he sought. When he drew near, he found it

was a magnificent palace, or rather a strong castle, of black

polished marble, and covered with fine steel, as smooth as glass.

Being highly pleased that he had so speedily met with something

worthy his curiosity, he stopped before the front of the castle,

and considered it with attention.

He then advanced towards the gate, which had two leaves, one of

them open; though he might immediately have entered, yet he

thought it best to knock. This he did at first softly, and waited

for some time; but seeing no one, and supposing he had not been

heard, he knocked harder the second time, and after that he

knocked again and again, but no one yet appearing, he was

exceedingly surprised; for he could not think that a castle in

such repair was without inhabitants. "If there be no one in it,"

said he to himself, "I have nothing to fear; and if it be

inhabited, I have wherewith to defend myself."

At last he entered, and when he came within the porch, he cried,

"Is there no one here to receive a stranger, who comes in for

some refreshment as he passes by?" He repeated the same words two

or three times; but though he spoke very loud, he was not

answered. The silence increased his astonishment: he came into a

spacious court, and looked on every side for inhabitants, but

discovered none.

The sultan entered the grand halls, which were hung with silk

tapestry, the alcoves and sofas were covered with stuffs of

Mecca, and the porches with the richest stuffs of India, mixed

with gold and silver. He came afterwards into a superb saloon, in

the middle of which was a fountain, with a lion of massy gold at

each angle: water issued from the mouths of the four lions; and

as it fell, formed diamonds and pearls, resembling a jet d'eau,

which springing from the middle of the fountain, rose nearly to

the top of a cupola painted in Arabesque.

The castle, on three sides, was encompassed by a garden, with

parterres of flowers, shrubbery, and whatever could concur to

embellish it; and to complete the beauty of the place, an

infinite number of birds filled the air with their harmonious

notes, and always remained there, nets being spread over the

garden, and fastened to the palace to confine them. The sultan

walked from apartment to apartment, where he found every thing

rich and magnificent. Being tired with walking, he sat down in a

verandah or arcade closet, which had a view over the garden,

reflecting what he had already seen, and then beheld: when

suddenly he heard the voice of one complaining, in lamentable

tones. He listened with attention, and heard distinctly these

words: "O fortune! thou who wouldst not suffer me longer to enjoy

a happy lot, forbear to persecute me, and by a speedy death put

an end to my sorrows. Alas! is it possible that I am still alive,

after so many torments as I have suffered!"

The sultan rose up, advanced toward the place whence he heard the

voice; and coming to the door of a great hall, opened it, and saw

a handsome young man, richly habited, seated upon a throne raised

a little above the ground. Melancholy was painted on his

countenance. The sultan drew near, and saluted him; the young man

returned his salutation by an inclination of his head, not being

able to rise, at the same time saying, "My lord, I should rise to

receive you; but am hindered by sad necessity, and therefore hope

you will not be offended." "My lord," replied the sultan, "I am

much obliged to you for having so good an opinion of me: as to

the reason of your not rising, whatever your apology be, I

heartily accept it. Being drawn hither by your complaints, and

afflicted by your grief, I come to offer you my help; would to

God that it lay in my power to ease you of your trouble! I would

do my utmost to effect it. I flatter myself that you will relate

to me the history of your misfortunes; but inform me first of the

meaning of the lake near the palace, where the fish are of four

colours? whose this castle is? how you came to be here? and why

you are alone?"

Instead of answering these questions, the young man began to weep

bitterly. "How inconstant is

fortune!" cried he; "she takes pleasure to pull down those she

had raised. Where are they who enjoy quietly the happiness which

they hold of her, and whose day is always clear and serene?"

The sultan, moved with compassion to see him in such a condition,

prayed him to relate the cause of his excessive grief. "Alas! my

lord," replied the young man, "how is it possible but I should

grieve, and my eyes be inexhaustible fountains of tears?" At

these words, lifting up his robe, he shewed the sultan that he

was a man only from the head to the girdle, and that the other

half of his body was black marble.

The sultan was much surprised, when he saw the deplorable

condition of the young man. "That which you shew me," said he,

"while it fills me with horror, excites my curiosity, so that I

am impatient to hear your history, which, no doubt, must be

extraordinary, and I am persuaded that the lake and the fish make

some part of it; therefore I conjure you to relate it. You will

find some comfort in so doing, since it is certain, that the

unfortunate find relief in making known their distress." "I will

not refuse your request," replied the young man, "though I cannot

comply without renewing my grief. But I give you notice before

hand, to prepare your ears, your mind, and even your eyes, for

things which surpass all that the imagination can conceive."

The History of the Young King of the Black Isles.

You must know that my father, named Mahmoud, was king of this

country. This is the kingdom of the Black Isles, which takes its

name from the four small neighbouring mountains; for these

mountains were formerly isles: the capital where the king my

father resided was situated on the spot now occupied by the lake

you have seen. The sequel of my history will inform you of those

changes.

The king my father died when he was seventy years of age; I had

no sooner succeeded him, than I married, and the lady I chose to

share the royal dignity with me, was my cousin. I had so much

reason to be satisfied with her affection, and, on my part, loved

her with so much tenderness, that nothing could surpass the

harmony and pleasure of our union. This lasted five years, at the

end of which time, I perceived the queen, my cousin, ceased to

delight in my attentions.

One day, after dinner, while she was at the bath, I found myself

inclined to repose and lay down upon a sofa. Two of her ladies,

who were then in my chamber, came and sat down, one at my head,

and the other at my feet, with fans in their hands to moderate

the heat, and to prevent the flies from disturbing me. They

thought I was asleep, and spoke in whispers; but as I only closed

my eyes, I heard all their conversation.

One of them said to the other, "Is not the queen wrong, not to

love so amiable a prince?" "Certainly," replied the other; "I do

not understand the reason, neither can I conceive why she goes

out every night, and leaves him alone!" "Is it possible that he

does not perceive it?" "Alas!" said the first, "how should he?

she mixes every evening in his liquor, the juice of a certain

herb, which makes him sleep so sound all night, that she has time

to go where she pleases, and as day begins to appear, she comes

and lies down by him again, and wakes him by the smell of

something she puts under his nostrils."

You may guess, my lord, how much I was surprised at this

conversation, and with what sentiments it inspired me; yet,

whatever emotion it excited, I had sufficient self-command to

dissemble, and feigned to awake without having heard a word.

The queen returned from the bath, we supped together and she

presented me with a cup full of such water as I was accustomed to

drink; but instead of putting it to my mouth, I went to a window

that was open, and threw out the water so quickly, that she did

not perceive it, and returned.

We went to bed together, and soon after, believing that I was

asleep, she got up with so little precaution, that she said loud

enough for me to hear her distinctly, "Sleep on, and may you

never wake again!" She dressed herself, and went out of the

chamber.

As soon as the queen my wife was gone, I dressed myself in haste,

took my cimeter, and followed her so quickly, that I soon heard

the sound of her feet before me, and then walked softly after

her, for fear of being heard. She passed through several gates,

which opened upon her pronouncing some magical words, and the

last she opened was that of the garden, which she entered. I

stopt at this gate, that she might not perceive me, as she passed

along a parterre; then looking after her as far as the darkness

of the night permitted, I saw her enter a little wood, whose

walks were guarded by thick palisadoes. I went thither by another

way, and concealing myself behind the palisadoes of a long walk,

I saw her walking there with a man.

I did not fail to lend the most attentive ear to their discourse,

and heard her address herself thus to her gallant: "I do not

deserve to be reproached by you for want of diligence. You well

know the reason; but if all the proofs of affection I have

already given you be not sufficient to convince you of my

sincerity, I am ready to give you others more decisive: you need

but command me, you know my power; I will, if you desire it,

before sun-rise convert this great city, and this superb palace,

into frightful ruins, inhabited only by wolves, owls, and revens.

If you would have me transport all the stones of those walls so

solidly built, beyond mount Caucasus, or the bounds of the

habitable world, speak but the word, and all shall be changed."

As the queen finished these words she and her lover came to the

end of the walk, turned to enter another, and passed before me. I

had already drawn my cimeter, and her lover being next me, I

struck him on the neck, and brought him to the ground. I

concluded I had killed him, and therefore retired speedily

without making myself known to the queen, whom I chose to spare,

because she was my kinswoman.

The wound I had given her lover was mortal; but by her

enchantments she preserved him in an existence in which he could

not be said to be either dead or alive. As I crossed the garden

to return to the palace, I heard the queen loudly lamenting, and

judging by her cries how much she was grieved, I was pleased that

I had spared her life.

As soon as I had reached my apartment, I went to bed, and being

satisfied with having punished the villain who had injured me,

fell asleep; and when I awoke next morning, found the queen

lying. I cannot tell you whether she slept or not; but I arose,

went to my closet, and dressed myself. I afterwards held my

council. At my return, the queen, clad in mourning, her hair

dishevelled, and part of it torn off, presented herself before

me, and said; "I come to beg your majesty not to be surprised to

see me in this condition. My heavy affliction is occasioned by

intelligence of three distressing events which I have just

received." "Alas! what are they, madam?" said I. "The death of

the queen my dear mother," she replied, "that of the king my

father killed in battle, and of one of my brothers, who has

fallen down a precipice."

I was not displeased that she used this pretext to conceal the

true cause of her grief, and I concluded she had not suspected me

of being the author of her lover's death. "Madam," said I, "so

far from blaming, I assure you I heartily commiserate your

sorrow. I should feel surprise if you were insensible to such

heavy calamities: weep on; your tears are so many proofs of your

tenderness; but I hope that time and reflection will moderate

your grief."

She retired into her apartment, where, giving herself wholly up

to sorrow, she spent a whole year in mourning and lamentation. At

the end of that period, she begged permission to erect a burying

place for herself, within the bounds of the palace, where she

would continue, she told me, to the end of her days: I consented,

and she built a stately edifice, crowned by a cupola, which may

be seen from hence, and called it the Palace of Tears. When it

was finished, she caused her lover to be conveyed thither, from

the place to which she had caused him to be carried the night I

wounded him: she had hitherto prevented his dying, by potions

which she had administered to him; and she continued to convey

them to him herself every day after he came to the Palace of

Tears.

Yet, with all her enchantments, she could not cure him; he was

not only unable to walk or support himself, but had also lost the

use of his speech, and exhibited no sign of life except in his

looks. Though the queen had no other consolation but to see him,

and to say to him all that her senseless passion could inspire,

yet every day she made him two long visits. I was well apprised

of this, but pretended ignorance.

One day my curiosity induced me to go to the Palace of Tears, to

observe how the princess employed herself, and from a place where

she could not see me, I heard her thus address her lover: "I am

afflicted to the highest degree to behold you in this condition;

I am as sensible as yourself of the tormenting pain you endure;

but, dear soul, I am continually speaking to you, and you do not

answer me: how long will you remain silent? Speak only one word:

alas! the sweetest moments of my life are these I spend here in

partaking of your grief. I cannot live at a distance from you,

and would prefer the pleasure of having you always before me, to

the empire of the universe."

At these words, which were several times interrupted by her sighs

and sobs, I lost all patience: and discovering myself, came up to

her, and said, "Madam, you have wept enough, it is time to give

over this sorrow, which dishonours both; you have too much

forgotten what you owe to me and to yourself." "Sire," said she,

"if you have any kindness or compassion for me left, I beseech

you to put no restraint upon me; allow me to indulge my grief,

which it is impossible for time to assuage."

When I perceived that my remonstrance, instead of restoring her

to a sense of duty, served only to increase her anguish, I gave

over and retired. She continued every day to visit her lover, and

for two whole years abandoned herself to grief and despair.

I went a second time to the Palace of Tears, while she was there.

I concealed myself again, and heard her thus address her lover:

"It is now three years since you spoke one word to me; you answer

not the proofs I give you of my love by my sighs and

lamentations. Is it from insensibility, or contempt? O tomb! hast

thou destroyed that excess of affection which he bare me? Hast

thou closed those eyes that evinced so much love, and were all my

delight? No, no, this I cannot think. Tell me rather, by what

miracle thou becamest the depositary of the rarest treasure the

world ever contained."

I must confess, my lord, I was enraged at these expressions; for,

in truth, this beloved, this adored mortal, was by no means what

you would imagine him to have been. He was a black Indian, one of

the original natives of this country. I was so enraged at the

language addressed to him, that I discovered myself, and

apostrophising the tomb in my turn; I cried, "O tomb! why dost

not thou swallow up that monster so revolting to human nature, or

rather why dost not thou swallow up both the lover and his

mistress?"

I had scarcely uttered these words, when the queen, who sat by

the black, rose up like a fury. "Miscreant!" said she "thou art

the cause of my grief; do not think I am ignorant of this, I have

dissembled too long. It was thy barbarous hand that brought the

objets of my fondness into this lamentable condition; and thou

hast the cruelty to come and insult a despairing lover." "Yes,"

said I, in a rage, "it was I that chastised that monster,

according to his desert; I ought to have treated thee in the same

manner; I now repent that I did not; thou hast too long abused my

goodness." As I spoke these words, I drew out my cimeter, and

lifted up my hand to punish her; but regarding me stedfastly, she

said with a jeering smile, "Moderate thy anger." At the same

time, she pronounced words I did not understand; and afterwards

added, "By virtue of my enchantments, I command thee to become

half marble and half man." Immediately, my lord, I became what

you see, a dead man among the living, and a living man among the

dead.

After the cruel sorceress, unworthy of the name of queen, had

metamorphosed me thus, and brought me into this hall, by another

enchantment she destroyed my capital, which was very flourishing

and populous; she annihilated the houses, the public places and

markets, and reduced the site of the whole to the lake and desert

plain you have seen; the fishes of four colours in the lake are

the four kinds of inhabitants of different religions, which the

city contained. The white are the Moosulmauns; the red, the

Persians, who worship fire; the blue, the Christians and the

yellow, the Jews. The four little hills were the four islands

that gave name to this kingdom. I learned all this from the

enchantress, who, to add to my affliction, related to me these

effects of her rage. But this is not all; her revenge not being

satisfied with the destruction of my dominions, and the

metamorphosis of my person, she comes every day, and gives me

over my naked shoulders a hundred lashes with a whip until I am

covered with blood. When she has finished this part of my

punishment, she throws over me a coarse stuff of goat's hair, and

over that this robe of brocade, not to honour, but to mock me.

When he came to this part of the narrative, the young king could

not restrain his tears; and the sultan was himself so affected by

the relation, that he could not find utterance for any words of

consolation. Shortly after, the young king, lifting up his eyes

to heaven, exclaimed, "Mighty creator of all things, I submit

myself to thy judgments, and to the decrees of thy providence: I

endure my calamities with patience, since it is thy will things

should be as they are; but I hope thy infinite goodness will

ultimately reward me."

The sultan, greatly moved by the recital of this affecting story,

and anxious to avenge the sufferings of the unfortunate prince,

said to him, "Inform me whither this perfidious sorceress

retires, and where may be found her vile paramour, who is

entombed before his death." "My lord," replied the prince, "her

lover, as I have already told you, is lodged in the Palace of

Tears, in a superb tomb constructed in the form of a dome: this

palace joins the castle on the side in which the gate is placed.

As to the queen, I cannot tell you precisely whither she retires,

but every day at sun-rise she goes to visit her paramour, after

having executed her bloody vengeance upon me; and you see I am

not in a condition to defend myself. She carries to him the

potion with which she had hitherto prevented his dying, and

always complains of his never having spoken to her since he was

wounded."

"Prince," said the sultan, "your condition can never be

sufficiently deplored: no one can be more sensibly affected by

your misfortunes than I am. Never did any thing so extraordinary

befall any man, and those who write your history will have the

advantage of relating what surpasses all that has hitherto been

recorded. One thing only is wanting; the revenge to which you are

entitled, and I will omit nothing in my power to effect it."

In his subsequent conversation with the young prince, the sultan

told him who he was, and for what purpose he had entered the

castle; and afterwards informed him of a mode of revenge which he

had devised. They agreed upon the measures they were to take for

accomplishing their design, but deferred the execution of it till

the following day. In the mean time, the night being far spent,

the sultan took some rest; but the young prince passed the night

as usual, without sleep, having never slept since he was

enchanted, still indulging some hopes of being speedily delivered

from his misery.

Next morning the sultan arose with the dawn, and prepared to

execute his design, hiding his upper garment, which might

encumber him; he then proceeded to the Palace of Tears. He found

it lighted up with an infinite number of flambeaux of white wax,

and perfumed by a delicious scent issuing from several censers of

fine gold of admirable workmanship. As soon as he perceived the

bed where the black lay, he drew his cimeter, and without

resistance deprived him of his wretched life, dragged his corpse

into the court of the castle, and threw it into a well. After

this, he went and lay down in the black's bed, placed his cimeter

under the covering, and waited to complete his design.

The queen arrived shortly after. She first went into the chamber

of her husband, the king of the Black Islands, stripped him, and

with unexampled barbarity gave him a hundred stripes. The

unfortunate prince filled the palace with his lamentations, and

conjured her in the most affecting tone to take pity on him; but

the cruel wretch ceased not till she had given the usual number

of blows. "You had no compassion on my lover," said she, "and you

are to expect none from me."

After the enchantress had given the king, her husband, a hundred

blows with the whip, she put on again his covering of goat's

hair, and his brocade gown over all; she went afterwards to the

Palace of Tears, and as she entered renewed her tears and

lamentations: then approaching the bed, where she thought her

paramour lay, "What cruelty," cried she, "was it to disturb the

satisfaction so tender and passionate a lover as I am? O cruel

prince, who reproachest me that I am inhuman, when I make thee

feel the effects of my resentment! Does not thy barbarity surpass

my vengeance? Traitor! in attempting the life of the object which

I adore, hast thou not robbed me of mine? Alas!" said she,

addressing herself to the sultan, conceiving him to be the black

"My sun, my life, will you always be silent! Are you resolved to

let me die, without affording me the comfort of hearing again

from your own lips that you love me? My soul, speak one word to

me at least, I conjure you."

The sultan, as if he had awaked out of a deep sleep, and

counterfeiting the pronunciation of the blacks, answered the

queen with a grave tone, "There is no strength or power but in

God alone, who is almighty." At these words the enchantress, who

did not expect them, uttered a loud exclamation of joy. "My dear

lord," cried she, "do not I deceive myself; is it certain that I

hear you, and that you speak to me?" "Unhappy woman," said the

sultan, "art thou worthy that I should answer thee?" "Alas!"

replied the queen, "why do you reproach me thus?" "The cries,"

returned the sultan, "the groans and tears of thy husband, whom

thou treatest every day with so much indignity and barbarity,

prevent my sleeping night or day. Hadst thou disenchanted him, I

should long since have been cured, and have recovered the use of

my speech. This is the cause of my silence, of which you

complain." "Well," said the enchantress, "to pacify you, I am

ready to execute your commands; would you have me restore him?"

"Yes," replied the sultan; "make haste to set him at liberty,

that I be no longer disturbed by his lamentations."

The enchantress went immediately out of the Palace of Tears; she

took a cup of water, and pronounced some words over it, which

caused it to boil, as if it had been on the fire. She afterwards

proceeded to the young king her husband, and threw the water upon

him, saying, "If the creator of all things did form thee as thou

art at present; or if he be angry with thee, do not change; but

if thou art in that condition merely by virtue of my

enchantments, resume thy natural shape, and become what thou west

before." She had scarcely spoken these words, when the prince,

finding himself restored to his former condition, rose up and

returned thanks to God. The enchantress then said to him, "Get

thee from this castle, and never return on pain of death." The

young king, yielding to necessity, went away from the

enchantress, without replying a word; and retired to a remote

place, where he patiently awaited the event of the design which

the sultan had so happily begun. Meanwhile, the enchantress

returned to the Palace of Tears, and supposing that she still

spoke to the black, said, "Dear love, I have done what you

required; nothing now prevents your rising and giving me the

satisfaction of which I have so long been deprived."

The sultan, still counterfeiting the pronunciation of the blacks,

said, "What you have now done is by no means sufficient for my

cure; you have only removed a part of the evil; you must cut it

up by the root." "My lovely black," resumed the queen, "what do

you mean by the root?" "Wretched woman," replied the sultan,

"understand you not that I allude to the town, and its

inhabitants, and the four islands, destroyed by thy enchantments?

The fish every night at midnight raise their heads out of the

lake, and cry for vengeance against thee and me. This is the true

cause of the delay of my cure. Go speedily, restore things to

their former state, and at thy return I will give thee my hand,

and thou shalt help me to arise."

The enchantress, inspired with hope from these words, cried out

in a transport of joy, "My heart, my soul, you shall soon be

restored to your health, for I will immediately do as you command

me." Accordingly she went that instant, and when she came to the

brink of the lake, she took a little water in her hand, and

sprinkling it, had no sooner pronounced some words over the fish

and the lake, than the city was immediately restored. The fish

became men, women, and children; Mahummedans, Christians,

Persians, or Jews; freemen or slaves, as they were before: every

one having recovered his natural form. The houses and shops were

immediately filled with their inhabitants, who found all things

as they were before the enchantment. The sultan's numerous

retinue, who found themselves encamped in the largest square,

were astonished to see themselves in an instant in the middle of

a large, handsome, well-peopled city.

To return to the enchantress: As soon as she had effected this

wonderful change, she returned with all expedition to the Palace

of Tears, that she might receive her reward. "My dear lord,"

cried she, as she entered, "I come to rejoice with you in the

return of your health: I have done all that you required of me,

then pray rise, and give me your hand." "Come near," said the

sultan, still counterfeiting the pronunciation of the blacks. She

did so. "You are not near enough," he continued, "approach

nearer." She obeyed. He then rose up, and seizing her by the arm

so suddenly, that she had not time to discover him, he with a

blow of his cimeter cut her in two, so that one half fell one way

and the other another. This done he left the body on the spot,

and going out of the Palace of Tears, went to seek the young king

of the Black Isles, who waited for him with great impatience.

When he found him, "Prince," said he, embracing him, "rejoice;

you have now nothing to fear; your cruel enemy is dead."

The young prince returned thanks to the sultan in a manner that

sufficiently the sincerity of his gratitude, and in return wished

him long life and happiness. "You may henceforward," said the

sultan, "dwell peaceably in your capital, unless you will

accompany me to mine, which is near: you shall there be welcome,

and have as much honour and respect shown you as if you were in

your own kingdom." "Potent monarch, to whom I am so much

indebted," replied the king, "you think then that you are near

your capital?" "Yes," said the sultan, "I know it is not above

four or five hours' journey." "It will take you a whole year to

return," said the prince "I do indeed believe that you came

hither from your capital in the time you mention, because mine

was enchanted; but since the enchantment is taken off, things are

changed: however, this shall not prevent my following you, were

it to the utmost corners of the earth. You are my deliverer, and

that I may give you proofs of my acknowledging this during my

whole life, I am willing to accompany you, and to leave my

kingdom without regret."

The sultan was extremely surprised to understand that he was so

far from his dominions, and could not imagine how it could be.

But the young king of the Black Islands convinced him beyond a

possibility of doubt. Then the sultan replied, "It is no matter;

the trouble of returning to my own country is sufficiently

recompensed by the satisfaction of having obliged you, and by

acquiring you for a son; for since you will do me the honour to

accompany me, as I have no child, I look upon you as such, and

from this moment appoint you my heir and successor."

The conversation between the sultan and the king of the Black

Islands concluded with most affectionate embraces, after which

the young prince employed himself in making preparations for his

journey, which were finished in three weeks, to the great regret

of his court and subjects, who agreed to receive at his hands one

of his nearest kindred for their monarch.

At length, the sultan and the young prince began their journey,

with a hundred camels laden with inestimable riches from the

treasury of the young king, followed by fifty handsome gentlemen

on horseback, perfectly well mounted and dressed They had a

pleasant journey; and when the sultan, who had sent couriers to

give advice of his delay, and of the adventure which had

occasioned it, approached his capital, the principal officers

came to receive him, and to assure him that his long absence had

occasioned no alteration in his empire. The inhabitants also came

out in great crowds, received him with acclamations, and made

public rejoicings for several days.

The day after his arrival the sultan gave all his courtiers a

very ample account of the circumstances, which, contrary to his

expectation, had detained him so long. He acquainted them with

his having adopted the king of the Four Black Islands, who was

willing to leave a great kingdom, to accompany and live with him;

and, in reward for their loyalty, he made each of them presents

according to their rank.

As for the fisherman, as he was the first cause of the

deliverance of the young prince, the sultan gave him a plentiful

fortune, which made him and his family happy the rest of their

days.

STORY OF THE THREE CALENDERS, SONS OF

SULTANS; AND OF THE FIVE LADIES OF BAGDAD.

In the reign of Caliph Haroon al Rusheed, there was at Bagdad, a

porter, who, notwithstanding his mean and laborious business, was

a fellow of wit and good humour. One morning as he was at the

place where he usually plyed, with a great basket, waiting for

employment, a handsome young lady, covered with a great muslin

veil, accosted him, and said with a pleasant air, "Hark you,

porter, take your basket and follow me." The porter, charmed with

these words, pronounced in so agreeable a manner, took his basket

immediately, set it on his head, and followed the lady,

exclaiming, "O happy day, O day of good luck!"

In a short time the lady stopped before a gate that was shut, and

knocked: a Christian, with a venerable long white beard, opened

it; and she put money into his hand, without speaking; but the

Christian, who knew what she wanted, went in, and in a little

time, brought a large jug of excellent wine. "Take this jug,"

said the lady to the porter, "and put it in your basket." This

being done, she commanded him to follow her; and as she

proceeded, the porter continued his exclamation, "O happy day!

This is a day of agreeable surprise and joy."

The lady stopped at a fruit-shop, where she bought several sorts

of apples, apricots, peaches, quinces, lemons, citrons, oranges;

myrtles, sweet basil, lilies, jessamin, and some other flowers

and fragrant plants; she bid the porter put all into his basket,

and follow her. As she went by a butcher's stall, she made him

weigh her twenty five pounds of his best meat, which she ordered

the porter to put also into his basket. At another shop, she took

capers, tarragon, cucumbers, sassafras, and other herbs,

preserved in vinegar: at another, she bought pistachios, walnuts,

filberts, almonds, kernels of pine-apples, and such other fruits;

and at another, all sorts of confectionery. When the porter had

put all these things into his basket, and perceived that it grew

full, "My good lady," said he, "you ought to have given me notice

that you had so much provision to carry, and then I would have

brought a horse, or rather a camel, for the purpose; for if you

buy ever so little more, I shall not be able to bear it." The

lady laughed at the fellow's pleasant humour, and ordered him

still to follow her.

She then went to a druggist, where she furnished herself with all

manner of sweet-scented waters, cloves, musk, pepper, ginger, and

a great piece of ambergris, and several other Indian spices; this

quite filled the porter's basket, and she ordered him to follow

her. They walked till they came to a magnificent house, whose

front was adorned with fine columns, and had a gate of ivory.

There they stopped, and the lady knocked softly.

While the young lady and the porter waited for the opening of the

gate, the porter made a thousand reflections. He wondered that

such a fine lady should come abroad to buy provisions; he

concluded she could not be a slave, her air was too noble, and

therefore he thought she must needs be a woman of quality. Just

as he was about to ask her some questions upon this head, another

lady came to open the gate, and appeared to him so beautiful,

that he was perfectly surprised, or rather so much struck with

her charms, that he had nearly suffered his basket to fall, for

he had never seen any beauty that equalled her.

The lady who brought the porter with her, perceiving his

disorder, and knowing the cause, was greatly diverted, and took

so much pleasure in watching his looks, that she forgot the gate

was opened. "Pray, Sister," said the beautiful portress, "come

in, what do you stay for? Do not you see this poor man so heavy

laden, that he is scarcely able to stand,"

When she entered with the porter, the lady who had opened the

gate shut it, and all three, after having passed through a

splendid vestibule, entered a spacious court, encompassed with an

open gallery, which had a communication with several apartments

of extraordinary magnificence. At the farther end of the court

there was a platform, richly furnished, with a throne of amber in

the middle, supported by four columns of ebony, enriched with

diamonds and pearls of an extraordinary size, and covered with

red satin embroidered with Indian gold of admirable workmanship.

In the middle of the court there was a fountain, faced with white

marble, and full of clear water, which was copiously supplied out

of the mouth of a lion of brass.

The porter, though heavy laden, could not but admire the

magnificence of this house, and the excellent order in which

every thing was placed; but what particularly captivated his

attention, was a third lady, who seemed to be more beautiful than

the second, and was seated upon the throne just mentioned; she

descended as soon as she saw the two others, and advanced towards

them: he judged by the respect which the other ladies showed her,

that she was the chief, in which he was not mistaken. This lady

was called Zobeide, she who opened the gate Safie, and she who

went to buy the provisions was named Amene.

Zobeide said to the two ladies, when she came to them, "Sisters,

do not you see that this honest man is ready to sink under his

burden, why do not you ease him of it?" Then Amene and Safie took

the basket, the one before and the other behind; Zobeide also

assisted, and all three together set it on the ground; then

emptied it; and when they had done, the beautiful Amene took out

money, and paid the porter liberally.

The porter was well satisfied with the money he had received; but

when he ought to have departed, he could not summon sufficient

resolution for the purpose. He was chained to the spot by the

pleasure of beholding three such beauties, who appeared to him

equally charming; for Amene having now laid aside her veil,

proved to be as handsome as either of the others. What surprised

him most was, that he saw no man about the house, yet most of the

provisions he had brought in, as the dry fruits, and the several

sorts of cakes and confections, were adapted chiefly for those

who could drink and make merry.

Zobeide thought at first, that the porter staid only to take

breath, but perceiving that he remained too long, "What do you

wait for," said she, "are you not sufficiently paid?" And turning

to Amene. she continued, "Sister, give him something more, that

he may depart satisfied." "Madam," replied the porter, "it is not

that which detains me, I am already more than paid for my

services; I am sensible that I act rudely in staying longer than

I ought, but I hope you will the goodness to pardon me, when I

tell you, that I am astonished not to see a man with three ladies

of such extraordinary beauty: and you know that a company of

women without men is as melancholy as a company of men without

women." To this he added several other pleasant things, to prove

what he said, and did not forget the Bagdad proverb, "That the

table is not completely furnished, except there be four in

company:" and so concluded, that since they were but three, they

wanted another.

The ladies fell a laughing at the porter's reasoning; after which

Zobeide gravely addressed him, "Friend, you presume rather too

much; and though you do not deserve that I should enter into any

explanation with you, I have no objection to inform you that we

are three sisters, who transact our affairs with so much secrecy

that no one knows any thing of them. We have but too much reason

to be cautious of acquainting indiscreet persons with our

counsel; and a good author that we have read, says, ‘Keep thy own

secret, and do not reveal it to any one. He that makes his secret

known it no longer its master. If thy own breast cannot keep thy

counsel, how canst thou expect the breast of another to be more

faithful?'"

"My ladies," replied the porter, "by your very air, I judged at

first that you were persons of extraordinary merit, and I

conceive that I am not mistaken. Though fortune has not given me

wealth enough to raise me above my mean profession, yet I have

not omitted to cultivate my mind as much as I could, by reading

books of science and history; and allow me, I beseech you, to

say, that I have also read in another author a maxim which I have

always happily followed: ‘We conceal our secret from such persons

only as are known to all the world to want discretion, and would

abuse our confidence; but we hesitate not to discover it to the

prudent, because we know that with them it is safe.' A secret in

my keeping is as secure as if it were locked up in a cabinet, the

key of which is lost, and the door sealed up."

Zobeide perceiving that the porter was not deficient in wit, but

thinking he wished to share in their festivity, answered him,

smiling, "You know that we have been making preparations to

regale ourselves, and that, as you have seen, at a considerable

expense; it is not just that you should now partake of the

entertainment without contributing to the cost." The beautiful

Safie seconded her sister, and said to the porter, "Friend. have

you never heard the common saying, ‘If you bring something with

you, you shall carry something away, but if you bring nothing,

you shall depart empty?'"

The porter, notwithstanding his rhetoric, must, in all

probability, have retired in confusion, if Amene had not taken

his part, and said to Zobeide and Safie, "My dear sisters, I

conjure you to let him remain; I need not tell you that he will

afford us some diversion, of this you perceive he is capable: I

assure you, had it not been for his readiness, his alacrity, and

courage to follow me, I could not have done so much business, in

so short a time; besides, where I to repeat to you all the

obliging expressions he addressed to me by the way, you would not

feel surprised at my taking his part."

At these words of Amene, the porter was so transported with joy,

that he fell on his knees, kissed the ground at her feet, and

raising himself up, said, "Most beautiful lady, you began my good

fortune to-day, and now you complete it by this generous conduct;

I cannot adequately express my acknowledgments. As to the rest,

ladies," said he, addressing himself to all the three sisters,

"since you do me so great an honour, do not think that I will

abuse it, or look upon myself as deserving of the distinction.

No, I shall always look upon myself as one of your most humble

slaves." When he had spoken these words he would have returned

the money he had received, but Zobeide ordered him to keep it.

"What we have once given," said she, "to reward those who have

served us, we never take back. My friend, in consenting to your

staying with us, I must forewarn you, that it is not the only

condition we impose upon you that you keep inviolable the secret

we may entrust to you, but we also require you to attend to the

strictest rules of good manners." During this address, the

charming Amene put off the apparel she went abroad with, and

fastened her robe to her girdle that she might act with the

greater freedom; she then brought in several sorts of meat, wine,

and cups of gold. Soon after, the ladies took their places, and

made the porter sit down by them, who was overjoyed to see

himself seated with three such admirable beauties. After they had

eaten a little, Amene took a cup, poured some wine into it, and

drank first herself; she then filled the cup to her sisters, who

drank in course as they sat; and at last she filled it the fourth

time for the porter, who, as he received it, kissed Amene's hand;

and before he drank, sung a song to this purpose. That as the

wind bears with it the sweet scents of the purfumed places over

which it passes, so the wine he was going to drink, coming from

her fair hands, received a more exquisite flavour than it

naturally possessed. The song pleased the ladies much, and each

of them afterwards sung one in her turn. In short, they were all

very pleasant during the repast, which lasted a considerable

time, and nothing was wanting that could serve to render it

agreeable. The day drawing to a close, Safie spoke in the name of

the three ladies, and said to the porter, "Arise, it is time for

you to depart." But the porter, not willing to leave good

company, cried, "Alas! ladies, whither do you command me to go in

my present condition? What with drinking and your society, I am

quite beside myself. I shall never find the way home; allow me

this night to recover myself, in any place you please, but go

when I will, I shall leave the best part of myself behind."

Amene pleaded the second time for the porter, saying, "Sisters,

he is right, I am pleased with the request, he having already

diverted us so well; and, if you will take my advice, or if you

love me as much as I think you do, let us keep him for the

remainder of the night." "Sister," answered Zobeide, "we can

refuse you nothing;" and then turning to the porter, said, "We

are willing once more to grant your request, but upon this new

condition, that, whatever we do in your presence relating either

to ourselves or any thing else, you do not so much as open your

mouth to ask the reason; for if you put any questions respecting

what does not concern you, you may chance to hear what you will

not like; beware therefore, and be not too inquisitive to pry

into the motives of our actions.

"Madam," replied the porter, "I promise to abide by this

condition, that you shall have no cause to complain, and far less

to punish my indiscretion; my tongue shall be immovable on this

occasion, and my eye like a looking-glass, which retains nothing

of the objets that is set before it." "To shew you," said Zobeide

with a serious countenance, "that what we demand of you is not a

new thing among us, read what is written over our gate on the

inside."

The porter went and read these words, written in large characters

of gold: "He who speaks of things that do not concern him, shall

hear things that will not please him." Returning again to the

three sisters, "Ladies," said he, "I swear to you that you shall

never hear me utter a word respecting what does not relate to me,

or wherein you may have any concern."

These preliminaries being settled, Amene brought in supper, and

after she had lighted up the room with tapers, made of aloe-wood

and ambergris, which yield a most agreeable perfume, as well as a

delicate light, she sat down with her sisters and the porter.

They began again to eat and drink, to sing, and repeat verses.

The ladies diverted themselves in intoxicating the porter, under

pretext of making him drink their healths, and the repast was

enlivened by reciprocal flashes of wit. When they were all in the

best humour possible, they heard a knocking at the gate.

When the ladies heard the knocking, they all three got up to open

the gate; but Safie was the nimblest; which her sisters

perceiving, they resumed their seats. Safie returning, said,

"Sisters, we have a very fine opportunity of passing a good part

of the night pleasantly, and if you agree with me, you will not

suffer it to go by. There are three calenders at our gate, at

least they appear to be such by their habit; but what will

surprise you is, they are all three blind of the right eye, and

have their heads, beards, and eye-brows shaved. They say, they

are but just come to Bagdad, where they never were before; it

being night, and not knowing where to find a lodging, they

happened by chance to knock at this gate, and pray us, for the

love of heaven, to have compassion on them, and receive them into

the house. They care not what place we put them in, provided they

may be under shelter; they would be satisfied with a stable. They

are young and handsome, and seem not to want spirit. But I cannot

without laughing think of their amusing and uniform figure." Here

Safie laughed so heartily, that the two sisters and the porter

could not refrain from laughing also. "My dear sisters," said

she, "you will permit them to come in; it is impossible but that

with such persons as I have described them to be, we shall finish

the day better than we began it; they will afford us diversion

enough, and put us to no charge, because they desire shelter only

for this night, and resolve to leave us as soon as day appears."

Zobeide and Amene made some difficulty to grant Safie's request,

for reasons which she herself well knew. But being very desirous

to obtain this favour, they could not refuse her; "Go then," said

Zobeide, "and bring them in, but do not forget to acquaint them

that they must not speak of any thing which does not concern

them, and cause them to read what is written over the gate."

Safie ran out with joy, and in a little time after returned with

the three calenders.

At their entrance they made a profound obeisance to the ladies,

who rose up to receive them, and told them courteously that they

were welcome, that they were glad of the opportunity to oblige

them, and to contribute towards relieving the fatigues of their

journey, and at last invited them to sit down with them.

The magnificence of the place, and the civility they received,

inspired the calenders with high respect for the ladies: but,

before they sat down, having by chance cast their eyes upon the

porter, whom they saw clad almost like those devotees with whom

they have continual disputes respecting several points of

discipline, because they never shave their beards nor eye-brows;

one of them said, "I believe we have got here one of our revolted

Arabian brethren."

The porter having his head warm with wine, took offence and with

a fierce look, without stirring from his place, answered, "Sit

you down, and do not meddle with what does not concern you: have

you not read the inscription over the gate? Do not pretend to

make people live after your fashion, but follow ours."