Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/125

96 who looked upon him kindly, and said to him, "What wilt thou?" So Mundzîr informed him the reason wherefore he had come, and presented to him the letter from Balkîs. And King Solomen read the letter, and asked, "Where is the casket?" and he took it from Mundzîr and shook it. Then the angel Gabriel came to him and told him what it contained. And he said to Mundzîr, "This casket contains precious stones unpierced, and other stones pierced crooked." "Thou art right," said Mundzîr; "but thou must pierce the jewels, and string the other stones upon a thread." So King Solomon demanded of men and of genii, "Who knows how to pierce these jewels?" But not one among them could tell him. Then he asked the devils. And they answered, "Send to the worm called ʾIradah. So he sent, and the ʾIradah came, and took a hair in its mouth, and worked through each jewel until it came out on the other side. Then King Solomon asked the worm, "What thing dost thou desire?" "To live always in trees," it replied. "Thy wish is granted," said the King (and the tree-worm lives unto this day). Then he asked, "Who can thread these stones?" A white maggot answered, "I will pass the