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"IN the country of Zouman, in Persia, there lived a King whose subjects were of Greek origin. This King was sorely afflicted with a leprosy, and his physicians had unsuccessfully tried every remedy they knew, when a very learned physician, called Douban, arrived at the court.
"As soon as he was informed of the King's illness, and heard that the physicians had given their master up, he dressed himself as neatly as possible, and obtained an audience of the King. 'Sir,' said he, 'I know that all the physicians who have attended your Majesty have been unable to remove your leprosy; but if you will do me the honour to accept of my services, I will engage to cure you without medicines or ointments.' The King, pleased with this proposal, replied: ‘If thou art really so skilful as thou pretendest, I promise to shower wealth on thee and thy posterity; and in addition to the presents thou shalt have, thou shalt be my first favourite; but dost thou tell me in earnest that thou wilt remove my leprosy without making me swallow any potion or applying any remedy externally?' 'Yes, sir,' replied the physician, 'I flatter myself I shall succeed, with the help of God, and to-morrow I will begin my cure.'
"Douban returned to his house, and made a sort of racket or bat, with a hollow in the handle to admit the drug he meant to use; that being done, he also prepared a sort of round ball, or bowl; and the following day he presented himself before the King, and prostrating himself at the monarch's feet, kissed the ground before him.
"Douban then arose, and told the King that he must ride on horseback to the place where he was accustomed to play at bowls. The King did as he was recommended; and when he had reached the bowling-green the physician approached him, and putting into his hand the bat, which had been prepared, said: 'O King, exercise yourself with striking yonder ball with this bat, till you find yourself in a profuse perspiration. When the remedy I have enclosed in the handle of the bat is warmed by your hand, it will penetrate through your whole body; you may then leave off playing, for the drug will have taken effect; and when you return to your palace get into a warm bath, and be well rubbed and washed; then go to bed and to-morrow you will be quite cured.'
"The King took the bat, and spurred his horse after the ball till he struck it. It was sent back to him by the officers who were playing with him, and he struck it again; and thus the game continued for a considerable time, till he found his hand as well as his whole body thoroughly heated, and the remedy in the bat began to operate as the physician had prophesied; the King then ceased playing, returned to the palace, bathed, and observed very punctually all the directions that had been given him.
"He soon found the good effects of the prescription; for when he arose the next morning he perceived with equal surprise and joy that his leprosy was entirely cured, and that his body was as clear as if he had never been attacked by that malady. As soon as he was dressed he went into the audience-chamber, where he mounted his throne and received the congratulations of all his courtiers, who had assembled on that day partly to gratify their curiosity, and partly to testify their joy at their master's recovery.
"Douban entered, and went to prostrate himself at the foot of the throne, with his face towards the ground. The King when he saw him called to him and made him sit by his side; and pointing him out to the assembly, gave him in that public way all the praise the physician so well deserved. Nor did the King stop here; for at a grand entertainment at court on that day he placed the physician at his own table to dine with him alone.
" The Greek King," continued the fisherman, "was not satisfied with admitting the physician to his own table; towards evening, when the courtiers were about to depart, he caused him to be dressed in a long rich robe resembling that which the courtiers usually wore in the King's presence; and in addition, made him a present of two thousand sequins. For the next few days this Prince, thinking he could never repay the obligations he owed to the skilful physician, was continually conferring on him some fresh proof of his gratitude.
"The King had a grand vizier; who was avaricious, envious, and prone by nature to every species of crime. This man observed with malicious fury the presents which had been bestowed upon the physician, whose great character and merit he was determined to lessen and destroy in the mind of the King. To accomplish this purpose, he went to the monarch, and said in private that he had some intelligence of the greatest moment to communicate. The King asked him what it was. ' Sir,' replied he, ‘it is very dangerous for a monarch to place confidence in a man, of whose fidelity he is not assured. While you overwhelm the physician Douban with your favours, and bestow all this kindness and regard upon him, you are ignorant that he is a traitor, who has introduced himself into the court, in order to assassinate you,' 'What is this you dare tell me?' cried the King. 'Recollect to whom you speak, and that you advance an assertion, which I shall not easily believe.' 'O King,' resumed the vizier, ' I am accurately informed of what I have the honour to represent to you; do not therefore continue to repose such a dangerous confidence in Douban. I repeat, that the physician Douban has travelled from the farthest part of Greece, his own country, solely to carry out the horrible design I have mentioned.'
"' No, no, vizier,' interrupted the King, ' I am sure this man, whom you consider a hypocrite and a traitor, is one of the most virtuous and best of men. You know by what remedy, or rather by what miracle, he cured me of my leprosy; and if he had sought my life, why did he thus save it? Cease then from endeavouring to instil unjust suspicions into my mind, for instead of listening to them, I now inform you that from this very day I bestow upon him a pension of one thousand sequins a month, for the rest of his life. And were I to share all my riches, and even my kingdoms with him, I could never sufficiently repay what he has done for me. I see the reason of this. His virtue excites your envy; but do not suppose that I shall suffer myself to be prejudiced against him.'
"The vizier was too desirous of the death of Douban to let the matter rest where it was. '0 King,' replied he, 'it is not envy that makes me hostile to him, it is the interest alone that I take in your Majesty's preservation. Douban is a spy, sent by your enemies to attempt your Majesty's life. He has cured you, you say - but who can tell that? He has, perhaps, only cured you in appearance, and not in truth; and who can tell whether this remedy, in the end, will not produce the most pernicious effects?'
"The Greek King was naturally rather weak, and had neither penetration enough to discover the wicked intention of his vizier, nor firmness to persist in his first opinion. 'You are right, vizier,' said he, 'he may have come for the express purpose of taking my life - an object he can easily accomplish. We must consider what is to be done in this difficulty!'
"When the vizier perceived the King in the disposition he wished to produce, he said to him: 'The best and most certain means, great King, to ensure your repose, and put your person in safety, is instantly to send to Douban, and on his appearance, to cause him to be beheaded.' 'Indeed,' replied the King, ' I think I ought to prevent his designs.' Having said this, he called one of his officers, and ordered him to summon the physician. The latter, quite unsuspicious of the King's design, hastened to the palace.
"'Knowest thou,' said the King, as soon as he saw him, 'why I sent for thee?' 'No, sir,.' answered Douban. 'I have ordered thee to come,' replied the King, ‘that I may free myself from thy snares by taking thy life.'
"It is impossible to express the astonishment of Douban when he heard himself thus addressed. 'For what reason, O King,' replied he, 'does your Majesty condemn me to death? What crime have I committed?' 'I have been informed,' said the King, 'that thou art a spy, and that thou hast come to my court to take away my life; but to prevent that, I will now deprive thee of thine. Strike!' added he to an officer who was present, 'and deliver me from a treacherous wretch who has introduced himself here only to assassinate me.'
"On hearing this, the physician began to think that the honours and riches which had been heaped upon him had excited some enemies against him, and that the King, through weakness, had suffered himself to be guided by these. He began to repent having cured the King; but this repentance came too late. 'Is it thus,' he cried, 'that you repay the good I have done you?' The King, however, paid no attention to his remonstrances, and a second time desired the officer to execute his orders. The physician had then recourse to prayers. 'Ah! Sir,' he cried, 'if you prolong my life, God will prolong yours; do not kill me, lest God should treat you in the same manner.'
"You see then,' said the fisherman to the Genie, "that what has passed between the Greek King and the physician Douban is exactly similar to what has happened between us.
"The Greek King, however," he continued, "instead of regarding the entreaties of the physician, exclaimed: 'No, no, you must die, or you will take away my life more mysteriously even than you have cured me.' The officer then put a bandage over the prisoner's eyes, tied Douban's hands, and was going to draw his scimitar. But the courtiers who were present felt so much for the physician that they entreated the King to pardon him, assuring his Majesty that they would answer for his innocence. But the King was inflexible, and spoke so peremptorily that they dare not reply.
"On his knees, his eyes bandaged, and ready to receive the stroke that was to terminate his existence, the physician once more addressed the King in these words: 'Since your Majesty refuses to revoke the order for my death, I entreat you at least to give me leave to return home, to arrange my funeral, take a last farewell of my family, bestow some money in charity, and leave my books to those who will know how to make a good use of them. There is one among them which I wish to present to your Majesty. It is a very rare and curious work, and worthy of being kept even in your treasury with the greatest care.' What book can there be,' replied the King, 'so valuable as to deserve such honour?' 'Sir,' answered the physician, 'it contains powers of the most curious nature; and one of the principal effects it can produce is, that when my head shall be cut off, if your Majesty will take the trouble to open the book at the sixth leaf, and read the third line on the left-hand page, my head will answer every question you wish to ask.' The King was so desirous of seeing such a wonderful thing, that he put off the physician's death till the next day, and sent him home under a strong guard.
"The unfortunate prisoner then arranged all his affairs; and as the news got abroad that an unheard-of prodigy was to happen after his execution, all the court flocked the next day to the hall of audience, to witness the extraordinary event.
"Douban the physician appeared presently, and advanced to the foot of the throne with a very large volume in his hand. He then placed the book on a vase, and unfolding the cover in which the book was wrapped, presented it to the monarch, and thus addressed him: ‘May it please your Majesty to receive this book; and directly my head shall have been struck off, order one of your officers to place the head on the vase upon the cover of the book. As soon as it is there the blood will cease to flow; then open the book, and my head shall answer all your questions. But, sir,' added Douban, 'permit me once more to implore your mercy. I protest to you I am innocent.' ‘Thy prayers,' answered the King, 'are useless; and were it only to hear thy head speak after thy death, I would wish for thy execution.' So saying, he took the book from the physician, and ordered the headsman to do his duty.
"The head was so cleverly cut off that it fell into the vase; and it had hardly been on the cover an instant before the blood ceased to run. Then, to the astonishment of the King and of all the spectators, it opened its eyes, and said: 'Will your Majesty now open the book?' The King did so; and finding that the first leaf stuck to the second, put his finger to his mouth, and moistened it, in order to turn over the leaves more easily. He turned them over, one by one, till he came to the sixth leaf; and observing nothing written upon the appointed page, he said to the head: 'Physician, there is no writing.' ‘Turn over a few more leaves,' replied the head. The King continued turning them over, still putting his finger frequently to his mouth, till the poison, in which each leaf had been dipped, began to produce its effect. The monarch then felt himself suddenly agitated in a most extraordinary manner; his sight failed him, and he rolled to the foot of the throne in strong convulsions.
"When the physician Douban, or rather his head, saw that his poison had begun to work, and the King had only a few moments to live, he exclaimed: 'Tyrant, behold how those princes are treated who abuse their power, and sacrifice the innocent! Sooner or later Allah punishes their injustice and their cruelty.' As soon as the head had finished these words, the King expired; and at the same moment the small remnant of life that remained in the head itself flickered away.
"Such, my lord,' continued Sheherazade, "was the end of the Greek King and the physician Douban, I shall now return to the fisherman and the Genie.
"When the fisherman had finished the history of the Greek King and the physician, he applied it to the Genie, whom he still kept confined in the vase. ' If,' said he, 'the Greek King had permitted Douban to live, Allah would have bestowed the same benefit on the King: but he rejected the humble prayers of the physician, and Allah punished him. This, O Genie, is the case with thee. If I had been able to make thee relent, and could have obtained the favour I asked of thee, I should have pitied the state in which thou now art; but as thou didst persist in thy determination to kill me, in spite of the great service I did thee in setting thee at liberty, I ought, in my turn, to show no mercy. By leaving thee within this vase, and casting thee into the sea, I shall deprive thee of the use of thy being till the end of time.'
" 'Once more, my good friend,' replied the Genie, 'I entreat thee not to be guilty of so cruel an act. Remember that revenge is not a part of virtue; on the contrary, it is praiseworthy to return good for evil,' ‘No, no,' said the fisherman, 'I will not release thee; it is better for me to cast thee to the bottom of the sea.' ' One word more, fisherman,' cried the Genie: 'I will teach thee how to become rich beyond thy imagining.'
"The hope of escaping from poverty and want at once disarmed the fisherman. ‘I would listen to thee,' he cried, 'if I had the least ground to believe thee; swear to me by the great name of Allah that thou wilt faithfully observe thy promise, and I will open the vase. I do not believe that thou wilt dare to violate such an oath.' The Genie took the oath; the fisherman immediately removed the covering of the vase, and the smoke instantly poured from it. The first thing the Genie did, after he had reassumed his usual form, was to kick the vase into the sea. This action rather alarmed the fisherman.
"The fear expressed by the fisherman made the Genie laugh: 'Be of good cheer, fisherman,' answered he, 'to show I intend to keep my word, take thy nets and follow me.' So they went out, and passed by the city and crossed the summit of a mountain, from whence they descended into a vast plain, which led them to a lake, situated between four small hills.
"When they had arrived on the borders of the lake, the Genie said to the fisherman: 'Throw thy nets, and catch fish.' The fisherman did not doubt that he should take some, for he saw a great quantity in the lake; but he was greatly surprised to notice that they were of four different colours; white, red, blue, and yellow. He threw his nets and caught four fish, one of each colour. ‘Carry these fish to the palace,' said the Genie, 'and offer them to the Sultan, and he will give thee more money than thou hast seen in thy life. Come thou every day and fish in this lake; but be careful to throw thy nets only once each day; if you neglect my warning, some evil will befall you, therefore take care.' Having said this, he struck his foot against the ground; the earth opened and he disappeared, the ground closing over him.
"The fisherman resolved to observe the advice and instructions of the Genie in every point, and to take care never to throw his nets a second time. He went back to the town very well satisfied with his success, and presented himself with his fish at the Sultan's palace.
"Your Majesty may imagine how much the Sultan was surprised when he saw the four fish. He took them up one by one, examined them very attentively, and after admiring them a long time he said to his first vizier: 'Take these fish, and carry them to that excellent cook, whom the Emperor of the Greeks sent me; I think they must be as delicious as they are beautiful.'
"The vizier took them, and delivered them himself into the hands of the cook. 'Here are four fish,' said he, ' which have been presented to the Sultan; he commands you to dress them.' He then returned to the Sultan, his master, who desired him to give the fisherman four hundred pieces of gold. The fisherman, who had never before beheld so large a sum of money at once, could not conceal his joy; and thought the whole adventure a dream. He soon, however, proved it to be a reality, and applied the gold to a good purpose in relieving the wants of his family.
"We must now, my lord," continued Sheherazade, "give account of what passed in the Sultan's kitchen. As soon as the cook had cleaned the fish, which the vizier had brought, she put them to fry over the fire in a vessel with some oil. When she thought they were sufficiently done on one side, she turned them. She had hardly done so when the wall of the kitchen appeared to separate and a beautiful young damsel came out of the opening. She was dressed in a satin robe, embroidered with flowers after the Egyptian manner, and adorned with ear-rings and a necklace of large pearls, and gold bracelets, set with rubies; she held a rod of myrtle in her hand. To the great astonishment of the cook, she approached the pan, and striking one of the fish with her rod, she said: 'Fish, fish, art thou doing thy duty?' The fish answered not a word. She repeated the question, when the four fishes all raised themselves up and said very distinctly! ‘Yes, yes - if you reckon, we reckon; if you pay your debts, we pay ours; if you fly, we conquer, and are content.' As soon as they had spoken these words the damsel overturned the vessel, and went back through the wall, which immediately closed up, and was as if it had never been disturbed.
"When the cook, who was greatly alarmed at all these wonders, had in some measure recovered from her fright, she went to take up the fish, which had fallen upon the hot ashes; but she found them blacker and more burnt than the coals themselves, and not at all in a fit state to be put before the Sultan. At this she was greatly distressed, and began to weep and lament bitterly. ‘Alas!' said she, 'what will become of me? I am sure, when I relate to the Sultan what I have seen, he will not believe me.'
"While she was in this distress the grand vizier entered, and asked if the fish were ready. The cook then related all that had taken place, at which the vizier was greatly astonished; but without telling the Sultan anything about the matter, he invented some excuse for the non-appearance of the fish, which satisfied his master. He then sent directly for the fisherman; on whose arrival he said, 'Bring me four more fish, like those you brought before; for an accident has happened, which prevents their being served up to the Sultan.' The fisherman pleaded the length of the way as an excuse for not being able to procure any more fish that day; he promised, however, to bring some the next morning.
"The fisherman, in order to be in time, set out before it was day and went to the lake. He threw his nets, and upon drawing them out, found four more fishes, like those he had taken the day before, each of a different colour. He returned directly, and brought them to the grand vizier. The vizier took them, and carried them into the kitchen, where he shut himself up with the cook, who prepared to dress them in his presence. She put them on the fire as she had done with the others on the preceding day. When they were dressed on one side, she turned them; and immediately the wall of the kitchen opened, and the same damsel appeared, with her myrtle wand in her hand. She approached the pan, in which the fish were, and striking one of them, repeated the words she had used on the preceding day; and all the fish raised their heads, and made the same answer. The damsel overturned the vessel with her rod, as she had done before, and went away through the wall. The grand vizier witnessed all that passed. ' This is very surprising,' he cried, 'and too extraordinary to be kept a secret from the Sultan's ears. I will myself go and inform him of this prodigy.' Accordingly he went directly, and gave an exact account of all that had passed.
"The Sultan was much astonished, and became very anxious to see this wonderful sight. For this purpose, he sent for the fisherman. ' Friend,' said he to him, 'canst thou not bring me four more fish of different colours? ' 'If your Majesty,' answered the fisherman, 'will grant me time, I can promise to do so.'
He obtained the time he wished, and went again for the third time to the lake. Not less successful than before, he caught four fishes of different colours, the first time he threw his nets. The fisherman hastened to carry them to the Sultan, who ordered four hundred pieces of money to be given to the man.
"As soon as the Sultan had obtained the fish, he had them brought into his own cabinet, together with the different things that were necessary for preparing them. He shut himself up with the grand vizier, who began to cook the fish, and put them on the fire in a proper vessel. As soon as they were done on one side, he turned them on the other. The wall of the cabinet immediately opened; but instead of the beautiful damsel, there appeared a negro, in the dress of a slave. This negro was of gigantic stature, and held a large green rod in his hand. He advanced towards the vessel, and touching one of the fish with his rod, he cried out in a terrible tone: 'Fish, fish, art thou doing thy duty?' At these words, the fish lifted 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 conquer, and are content.' The fish had scarcely said this when the negro overturned the vessel into the middle of the cabinet, and reduced the fish to cinders. Having done this, he retired through the opening in the wall, which instantly closed, and appeared as perfect as before.
" 'After what I have seen,' said the Sultan to his grand vizier, 'I cannot think of letting this matter rest. It is certain that these fish signify something very extraordinary, and I must discover what it is. He sent for the fisherman, and when the man arrived, the Sultan said to him: 'The fish thou hast brought me have caused great uneasiness; where dost thou catch them?' 'I caught them, O Sultan,' answered he, 'in a lake, which is situated in the midst of four small hills, beyond the mountains you may see from hence.' ‘Do you know that lake?' said the Sultan to the vizier. 'No, my lord,' answered he, 'I have never even heard it mentioned, though I have hunted in the vicinity of the mountain, and beyond it, for nearly sixty years.' The Sultan asked the fisherman about what distance the lake was from the palace; he replied that it was not more than three hours' journey. On hearing this, as there was still time to arrive there before night, the Sultan ordered his whole court to accompany him, while the fisherman served as a guide.
"They all ascended the mountain; and on going down on the other side, they were much surprised at the appearance of a large plain, which no one had ever before remarked. They at length arrived at the lake, which they found situated exactly as the fisherman had reported. Its water was so transparent that they could see that all the fish were of the same colours as those the fisherman had brought to the palace.
"The Sultan halted at the side of the lake; and after contemplating the fish with looks of great admiration, he inquired of his courtiers, if it could be possible that they had never seen this lake, which was so close to the city? They all said they had never even heard it mentioned. 'Since you all agree, then,' said he, 'that you have never heard it spoken of, and since I am not less astonished than yourselves at this novelty, I am resolved not to return to my palace till I have discovered for what reason this lake is now placed here, and why there are fish of only four colours in it.' Thereupon he ordered them to encamp.
"When the day closed the Sultan retired to his pavilion, and began an important conversation with his vizier. 'My mind,' said he, 'is much disturbed; this lake suddenly placed here, this black who appeared to us in my cabinet, these fish too, which we heard speak; all this so much excites my curiosity, that I am determined to be satisfied. Therefore I have made up my mind to execute the design I meditate. I shall go quite alone from my camp, and order you to keep my departure a profound secret. Remain in my pavilion, and when my courtiers present themselves at the entrance to-morrow morning, send them away and say I am somewhat indisposed, and wish to remain alone. You will continue to do so every day till my return.'
"The grand vizier endeavoured by many arguments to dissuade the Sultan from carrying out his design. But all his eloquence was exhausted to no effect; the Sultan did not listen to him, but prepared to set out. He put on a dress proper for walking, and armed himself with a sabre; and as soon as he found that everything in the camp was quiet, he departed quite alone.
"The Sultan bent his course towards one of the small hills, which he ascended without much difficulty; and the descent on the other side was still easier. He then pursued his way over a plain till the sun rose. He now perceived before him, in the distance, a large building, the sight of which filled him with joy; for he now hoped to gain some intelligence of what he wished to know. When he came near he remarked that the building was a magnificent palace built of polished black marble, and covered with fine steel, so bright that it shone like a mirror. Delighted to have so soon met with something, at least, worth investigation, he stopped opposite the front of the castle, and examined it with much attention; he then advanced towards the folding doors, one of which was open. Though he might have entered, he thought it better to knock. At first he knocked gently, and waited some time; but finding that no one answered his summons, he knocked a second time, much louder than before; still no one came. At this he was much astonished, for he could not imagine that a castle so well built could be deserted. ‘If there is no person there,' said the Sultan to himself, 'I have nothing to fear; and if any one comes, I have arms to defend myself with.'
"At last he entered, and pausing in the vestibule, he called out: 'Is there no one here to receive a stranger, who is in want of refreshment on his journey? 'He repeated this call two or three times, as loudly as he could; still there was no answer. This silence increased his astonishment. He passed on to a very spacious court, and looking on every side, he could not discover a living creature. He then passed through some large halls, in which were spread carpets of silk, while the recesses were full of sofas entirely covered with the stuffs of Mecca; the curtains hung before the doors were of the richest manufactures of India, embroidered with gold and silver. The Sultan went on, and came to a most splendid saloon, in the midst of which there was a large reservoir, with a lion of massive gold at each corner. Streams of water issued from the mouths of the four lions, and formed a goodly addition to a fountain that sprang from the middle of the basin, rising almost to the top of a dome, beautifully painted in the arabesque style.
"The castle was surrounded on three sides by a garden, radiant with all kinds of flowers, with fountains, groves, and many other beauties; but what more than all else rendered this spot enchanting, was the multitude of birds, which filled the air with their sweetest notes. This was their constant habitation; for nets were thrown entirely over the trees, which prevented the escape of the beautiful songsters.
"The Sultan continued a long time walking from one apartment to another; and everything around him was grand and magnificent. Being somewhat fatigued, he sat down in an open cabinet, which looked into the garden. Here he sat meditating upon all he had seen, when suddenly a plaintive voice, uttering the most heartrending cries, struck his ear. He listened attentively, and heard these melancholy words: 'O Fortune, thou hast not suffered me long to enjoy my happy lot, but hast rendered me the most wretched of men; cease, I entreat thee, thus to persecute me, and rather by a speedy death put an end to my sufferings!'
"The Sultan, much affected by these lamentable complaints, immediately rose and went towards the spot whence they issued. He came to the entrance of a large hall. Drawing the curtain aside, he saw a young man seated upon a sort of throne, raised a little from the ground. This man was handsome to behold, and was very richly dressed. A look of sorrow was impressed on his countenance. The Sultan approached and saluted the stranger. The youth returned the compliment by a deep bending of his head, but did not rise. 'Certainly,' said he to the Sultan, 'I ought to rise to receive you, and show you all possible respect - but a most powerful reason prevents me; you will not, I trust, take it amiss.' 'Whatever may be your motive for not rising,' said the Sultan, 'I willingly receive your apologies. Attracted by your complaints, and hoping to relieve your sufferings, I come to offer you my assistance. But, in the first place, I beg you to inform me, what is the meaning of that lake in which there are fish of four different colours: tell me also how this castle came here and how you came to be in it thus alone?'
"Instead of answering these questions, the young man began to weep most bitterly. 'How inconstant is Fortune!' he cried. 'She delights in hurling down those whom she has raised up. Who can say he has ever enjoyed from her a life of calm and pure happiness?'
"The Sultan, touched with compassion at the youth's condition, again requested him to relate the cause of such sorrow. 'Alas, my lord,' answered the youth, 'can I be otherwise than sorrowful?' With these words he lifted up his robe, and the Sultan perceived he was a man only to his waist, and that from thence to his feet he had been changed into black marble.
"The Sultan's surprise may be readily imagined when he saw the deplorable state of the young man. 'What you show me,' said he to him, 'fills me with horror, but at the same time excites my interest; I am impatient to learn your history, and I am convinced that the lake and the fish have some connexion with it. I entreat you, therefore, to relate your story.' I will not refuse you this satisfaction,' replied the young man, ' but I must forewarn you to prepare your ears and your mind, nay even your eyes, for something that passes all belief.'
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