The genie, continued she, having promised to speak the truth, the
fisherman says to him, --I would know if you were actually in this
vessel: dare you swear it by the name of the great God? Yes, replied
the genie, I do swear by that great name that I was, and it is a
certain truth. In good faith, answered the fisherman, I cannot
believe you; the vessel is not capable of holding one of your feet,
and how should it be possible that your whole body could lie in it?
I swear to thee, notwithstanding, replied the genie, that I was
there just as you see me here: Is it possible, that thou dost not
believe me after this great oath that I have taken? Truly, not I,
said the fisherman; nor will I believe you, unless you show it me.
Upon which the body of the genic was dissolved, and changed itself
into smoke, extending itself as formerly upon the sea and shore: and
then at last being gathered together, it began to re-enter the
vessel, which it continued to do successively by a slow and equal
motion, after a smooth and exact way, till nothing was left out; and
immediately, a voice came forth, which said to the fisherman, Well,
now, incredulous fellow, I am all in the vessel, do not you believe
me now.
The fisherman, instead of answering the genie, took the cover of
lead, and having speedily shut the vessel, Genie, cries he, now it
is your turn to beg my favour, and to choose which way I shall put
you to death; but not so, it is better that I should throw you into
the sea, whence I took you: and then I will build a house upon the
bank, where I will dwell, to give notice to all fishermen who come
to throw in their nets, to beware of such a wicked genie as thou
art, who hast made an oath to kill him that shall set thee at
liberty.
The genie, enraged at those expressions, did all he could to get out
of the vessel again; but it was not possible for him to do it; for
the impression of Solomon’s seal prevented him. So perceiving that
the fisherman had got the advantage of him, he thought fit to
dissemble his anger; Fisherman, said he, in a pleasant tone, take
heed you do not do what you say, for what I spoke to you before was
only by way of jest, and you are to take it no otherwise. O, genie!
replies the fisherman, thou who wast but a moment ago the greatest
of all genie, and now art the least of them, thy crafty discourse
will signify nothing to thee, but to the sea thou shalt return. If
thou hast staid there already so long as thou hast told me, thou
mayst very well stay there till the day of judgment. I begged of
thee in God’s name, not to take away my life, and thou didst
reject my prayers; I am obliged to treat thee in the same manner.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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