Pagina 205 de 1116

After this the young lady upset the frying pan and went forth by

the way she came in and the kitchen wall closed upon her. When

the cook maiden recovered from her fainting fit, she saw the four

fishes charred black as charcoal, and crying out, "His staff

brake in his first bout,"[FN#107] she again fell swooning to the

ground. Whilst she was in this case the Wazir came for the fish

and looking upon her as insensible she lay, not knowing Sunday

from Thursday, shoved her with his foot and said, "Bring the fish

for the Sultan!" Thereupon recovering from her fainting fit she

wept and informed him of her case and all that had befallen her.

The Wazir marvelled greatly and exclaiming, "This is none other

than a right strange matter!", he sent after the Fisherman and

said to him, "Thou, O Fisherman, must needs fetch us four fishes

like those thou broughtest before." Thereupon the man repaired to

the tarn and cast his net; and when he landed it, lo!