Pagina 202 van 1116

Then he bore off the bowl upon his head and repairing to the

King's palace (even as the Ifrit had bidden him) laid the fish

before the presence; and the King wondered with exceeding wonder

at the sight, for never in his lifetime had' he seen fishes like

these in quality or in conformation. So he said, "Give those fish

to the stranger slave girl who now cooketh for us," meaning the

bond maiden whom the King of Roum had sent to him only three days

before, so that he had not yet made trial of her talents in the

dressing of meat. Thereupon the Wazir carried the fish to the

cook and bade her fry them[FN#105] saying, "O damsel, the King

sendeth this say to thee:-I have not treasured thee, O tear o'

me!