Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/298

270 by the way, answer him not, but fare on till thou comest to the market of the money-changers, at the upper end whereof thou wilt find the shop of Master Aboussaadat the Jew, Sheikh of the money-changers, and wilt see him sitting on a divan amiddleward his slaves and servants, black and white, with a cushion behind him and two coffers, one for gold and one for silver, before him.

Go up to him and set the basket before him, saying, “O Aboussaadat, I went out to-day to fish and cast my net in thy name, and God the Most High sent me this fish.” He will say, “Hast thou shown it to any but me?” And do thou answer, “No, by Allah!” Then will he take it of thee and give thee a dinar. Give it him back and he will give thee two dinars; but do thou return them also and take nothing from him, though he give thee the fish’s weight in gold. Then will he say to thee, “Tell me what thou wouldst have.” And do thou reply, “By Allah, I will not sell the fish save for two words!” He will ask, “What are they?” And do thou answer, “Stand up and say, ‘Bear witness, O ye who are present in the market, that I give Khelifeh the fisherman my ape in exchange for his ape and that I barter my lot for his lot and my luck for his luck.’ This is the price of the fish, and I have no need of gold.” If he do this, I will every day give thee good-morrow and good-even, and thou shalt gain ten dinars a day; whilst this one-eyed, lame ape shall daily give the Jew good-morrow, and God shall afflict him every day with an exaction, which he must needs pay, nor will he cease to be thus afflicted till he is reduced to beggary and hath nought. Hearken then to my words; so shalt thou prosper and be guided aright.’

Quoth Khelifeh, ‘I accept thy counsel, O king of all apes! But, as for this unlucky wretch, may God not bless him! I know not what to do with him.’ ‘Let him go into the water,’ said the ape, ‘and let me go also.’ ‘I