Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/342

314 second ape, ‘and if thou hearken to me, thou shalt be at rest and I will become thine ape in his stead.’ ‘And what dost thou counsel me?’ asked the fisherman; and the ape said, ‘Cast thy net and thou shalt bring up a noble fish, never saw any its like, and I will tell thee how thou shalt do with it.’ ‘Harkye, thou also!’ replied Khelif. ‘If I throw my net and there come up therein a third ape, I will cut the three of you into six pieces.’ And the second ape answered, ‘So be it, O Khelif. I agree to this condition.’

Then Khelif took the net and cast it and drew it up, when behold in it a fine young carp, with a round head, as it were a milking-pail, which when he saw, his reason fled for joy and he said, ‘Glory be to God! What is this noble creature? Were yonder apes in the river, I had not brought up this fish.’ Quoth the second ape, ‘Harkye, Khelif! If thou give ear to my rede, it will bring thee good fortune.’ ‘May God curse him who would gainsay thee henceforth!’ replied the fisherman, and the ape said, ‘O Khelif, take some grass and lay the fish thereon in the basket and cover it with more grass and take somewhat of basil from the greengrocer’s and set it in the fish’s mouth. Cover it with a napkin and get thee to the bazaar of Baghdad. Whoever bespeaks thee of selling it, sell it not [but fare on] till thou come to the market of the jewellers and money-changers.

Count five shops on the right-hand side and the sixth shop is that of Aboussaadat the Jew, the Khalif’s money-changer. When thou standest before him, he will say to thee, “What seekest thou?” And do thou answer, “I am a fisherman. I cast my net in thy name and took this noble carp, which I have brought thee as a present.” If he give thee aught of money, take it not, be it little or much, for it will put to nought that which thou wouldst do, but say to him, “I want of thee but one word, that