Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/20

4 because of what befell between us and thee; but indeed we have repented amain. It was Satan’s doing, the curse of God the Most High be upon him! And now we have no blessing but thee and our mother.’ ‘And I,’ rejoined Jouder, ‘I have no blessing but you twain.’ And his mother exclaimed, ‘God whiten thy face, O my son, and increase thy prosperity, for thou art the best of us all!’ Then he said to his brothers, ‘Welcome to you both! Abide with me; for God is bountiful and good aboundeth with me.’ So he made peace with them and they ate the evening mealevening-meal [sic] and passed the night with him.

Next morning, after they had broken their fast, Jouder shouldered his net and went out, trusting in [God] the Opener [of the gates of sustenance,] whilst the two others also went forth and were absent till noon, when they returned and their mother set the midday mealmidday-meal [sic] before them. At nightfall, Jouder came home, bearing meat and vegetables, and they abode thus a month’s space, Jouder catching fish and spending their price on his mother and his brothers, and the latter eating and amusing themselves, till, one day, he went down to the river-bank and casting his net, brought it up empty. He cast it a second time, but again it came up empty and he said to himself, ‘There are no fish in this place.’ So he removed to another place and cast the net there, but with no better success. And he ceased not to remove from place to place till nightfall, but caught not a single gudgeon and said to himself, ‘Strange! Is the river drained of fish or what?’ Then he shouldered the net and made for home, chagrined and concerned for his mother and brothers and knowing not how he should feed them that night.

Presently he came to a baker’s oven and saw the folk crowding for bread, with money in their hands, whilst the baker took no note of them. So he stood there, sighing, and the baker said to him, ‘Welcome, O Jouder! Dost