Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/325

295 the powder and conjuring over it, cast it abroad in the air, and immediately the palace appeared. He entered and taking the saddle-bags off the ass, set up the rod and dish and hung out the robe, proclaiming aloud as of his wont. Then he conjured, and meat and wine appeared before him and he ate and drank; after which he took a cup of water and pronouncing certain words thereover, sprinkled it on Ali, saying, ‘Quit this shape and return to thy former one.’ Ali straightway became a man again and Azariah said to him, ‘O Ali, take good advice and be content with [what thou hast felt of] my mischief. Thou hast no call to marry Zeyneb nor to take my daughter’s robe, for it is no easy matter for thee; so leave covetise and it will be better for thee. Else will I turn thee into a bear or an ape or set an Afrit on thee, who will cast thee behind the Mountain Caf.’ ‘O Azariah,’ answered Ali, ‘I have engaged to take the robe and needs must I have it and thou must become a Muslim; else I will kill thee.’ ‘O Ali,’ rejoined the Jew, ‘thou art like a walnut; unless it be broken, it cannot be eaten.’

Then he took a cup of water and conjuring over it, sprinkled Ali with it, saying, ‘Take the shape of a bear;’ whereupon he instantly became a bear and the Jew muzzled him and putting a collar about his neck, chained him to a picket of iron. Then he sat down and ate and drank, now and then throwing him a morsel and emptying the dregs of the cup over him, till the morning, when he rose and lay by the tray and the robe and conjured over the bear, which followed him to the shop. There he tied him up by the chain and he abode, hearing and seeing and understanding, but unable to speak, whilst the Jew sat down and emptied the gold and silver into the trays before him. Presently up came a merchant, who accosted the Jew and said to him, ‘Wilt thou sell me yonder bear? I have a wife who is my cousin [and is sick;] and it hath