Pagina 138 de 1116

And the King had had his will of the Wazir's daughter, Dunyazad,

her sister, said to her, "Finish for us that tale of thine;" and

she replied, "With joy and goodly gree! It hath reached me, O

auspicious King, that when the third old man told a tale to the

Jinni more wondrous than the two preceding, the Jinni marvelled

with exceeding marvel, and, shaking with delight, cried, Lo! I

have given thee the remainder of the merchant's punishment and

for thy sake have I released him." Thereupon the merchant

embraced the old men and thanked them, and these Shaykhs wished

him joy on being saved and fared forth each one for his own city.

Yet this tale is not more wondrous than the fisherman's story."

Asked the King, "What is the fisherman's story?" And she answered

by relating the tale of

THE FISHERMAN AND THE JINNI.