Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
The day after his arrival, the sultan assembled his courtiers, and
gave them an ample detail of the occurrences, which, contrary to his
wishes, had delayed his return: he then declared to them his
intention of adopting the king of the four Black Isles, who had left
a large kingdom to accompany and live with him; and at last, to
reward the fidelity with which they served him, he bestowed presents
on all, according to their rank and station.
With regard to the fisherman, as he had been the first cause of the
deliverance of the young prince, the sultan overwhelmed him with
rewards, and made him and his family happy and comfortable for the
rest of their days.
THE HISTORY
OF THREE CALENDERS, SONS OF KINGS, AND OF FIVE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
During the reign of the Caliph Haroun Alraschid there lived at
Bagdad a porter, who, notwithstanding his low and laborious
profession, was nevertheless a man of wit and humour. One morning,
when he was standing with a large basket before him, in a place
where he usually waited for employment, a young lady of a fine
figure, covered with a large muslin veil, came up to him, and said
with a pleasing air, “Porter, take up your basket and follow
me.” The porter, delighted with these few words, pronounced in so
agreeable a manner, put it on his head and went after the lady,
saying, “Oh happy day! Oh happy meeting!”
The lady stopped at a closed door, and knocked. A venerable
Christian, with a long white beard, opened it, and she put some
money into his hands without saying a single word; but the
Christian, who knew what she wanted, went in, and shortly after
brought out a large jar of excellent wine. “Take this jar,” said
the lady to the porter, “and put it in the basket.” This being
done, she desired him to follow her, and walked on; the porter still
exclaiming, “Oh day of happiness! Oh day of agreeable surprise and
joy!”
The lady stopped at the shop of a seller of fruits and flowers,
where she chose various sorts of apples, apricots, peaches, lemons,
citrons, oranges, myrtles, sweet basil, lilies, jessamine, and some
other sweet-scented flowers and plants. She told the porter to put
all those things in his basket, and follow her. Passing by a
butcher’s shop, she ordered five and twenty pounds of his finest
meat to be weighed, which was also put into the porter’s basket.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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