The genie threatens the fisherman

The genie, looking at the fisherman, exclaimed, "Humble yourself before me. I intend to kill you."

"For what reason will you kill me?" asked the trembling fisherman. "Have you already forgotten that I set you at liberty?"

"I remember it very well," the genie responded; "but that shall not prevent my destroying you, and I will only grant you one favor."

"And pray what is that?" said the fisherman.

"It is," replied the genie, "to permit you to choose the manner of your death. I am a spirit who, thousands of years ago, rebelled against God. Solomon, the wise King of Israel, enclosed me in this copper vase as a punishment and put his seal on the leaden cover. This done, he gave the vase to one of those genies who obeyed him, and ordered the genie to cast me into the sea.

"During the first century of my captivity, I swore that if anyone delivered me before a hundred years were passed, I would make him rich. During the second century I swore that if anyone released me I would discover to him all the treasures of the earth. During the third, I promised to make my deliverer a most powerful monarch, and to grant him every day any three requests he chose. These centuries passed away, and I was still in the vase. Enraged at last, I swore in revenge for the long delay that I would, without mercy kill whoever should in future release me, and that the only favor I would grant him should be to choose what manner of death he pleased. Since therefore you have delivered me, select whatever kind of death you will."

The fisherman was greatly distressed. "Alas!" he cried, "have pity on me. Remember what I have done for you."

"Let us lose no time," responded the genie.

"Your arguments avail not. Tell me how you wish to die."

Necessity is the mother of invention, and the fisherman thought of a stratagem, "Since I cannot escape death," said he, "I submit; but before I choose the sort of death, answer me truly a question I am going to put to you."

"Ask what you will and make haste," said the genie.

"Dare you to swear that you were really in this vase?" was the fisherman's response. "It cannot contain one of your feet. How then can it hold your whole body?"

"I swear to you, notwithstanding," replied the genie, "that I was in the vase? Will you not believe me?"

"No," declared the fisherman, "I shall not believe you unless I see you return into it."

Immediately the form of the genie began to change into smoke until it extended as before over both the shore and the sea. Then, collecting itself, it began to enter the vase, and continued to do so in a slow and equal manner till nothing remained without. The fisherman at once took the leaden cover and put it on the vase. "Genie," he cried, "it is now your turn to beg for mercy. I shall throw you again into the sea, and I will build, opposite the very spot where you are cast, a house on the shore, in which I will live to warn all fishermen that come here to throw their nets, not to fish up so evil a genie as you are, who make an oath to kill the man that sets you at liberty."

The genie tried for a long time in vain to move the fisherman's pity. "You are too treacherous for me to trust you," the fisherman declared. "I would deserve to lose my life if I put myself in your power a second time."

So saying he grasped the vase and was about to throw it back into the water when the genie cried, "One word more, fisherman; I will teach you how to become rich."

"I could listen to you," said the fisherman, "were there any credit to be given to your word. Swear to me by the great name of God that you will faithfully perform what you promise, and I will open the vase. I do not believe you will dare to break such an oath."

The genie did as he was bidden; and the fisherman took off the covering. The smoke instantly ascended, and the genie resumed his natural form and kicked the vase into the sea. Then he turned to the fisherman and said, "Take your net and follow me. I will show you that I intend to keep my word."

They passed by the city and went over the top of a mountain, whence they descended to a vast plain and continued till they came to a lake situated between four small hills, "Fisherman," said the genie, "throw your net and catch fish."

The fisherman saw a great quantity of fish in the lake, and was surprised at finding them of four different colors — white, red, blue and yellow. He threw his net and caught four fish, one of each color. As he had never seen any similar to them he could hardly cease admiring them, and judging that he could dispose of them for a considerable sum he expressed great joy.

"Carry these fish to the palace," said the genie, "and present them to the sultan, and he will give you more money than you ever before handled in all your life. You may comb every day and fish in this lake, but beware of casting your net more than once each day. This is my advice, and if you follow it exactly, you will do well."

When the genie finished speaking he struck his foot on the ground, which opened in a wide crack, swallowed him up, and then closed.

The fisherman went back to the town and presented his fish at the sultan's palace. The sultan observed the four fish most attentively, and after admiring them a long time, he said to his grand vizier, "Take these fish to the cook. I think they must be as good to eat as they are beautiful; and give the fisherman four hundred pieces of gold."

The fisherman, who was never before in possession of so large a sum of money, hastened to use it in relieving the wants of his family.

As soon as the cook had cleaned the fish which the vizier had brought, she put them on the fire in a frying-pan; and when she thought them sufficiently done on one side, she turned them. At that moment, wonderful to relate, the wall of the kitchen opened, and a young lady of marvellous beauty appeared. She was dressed in a satin robe embroidered with flowers, and wore gold bracelets and a necklace of large pearls, and she held a rod in her hand. The cook, greatly amazed, remained motionless, while the lady moved toward the frying-pan, and striking one of the fish with her rod, she said, "Fish, fish, art thou doing thy duty?"

Then the four fish raised themselves up and said very distinctly, "Yes, yes, if you reckon, we reckon. If you pay your debts, we pay ours. If you fly, we conquer and are content."

When they had spoken these words the damsel overturned the frying-pan and went back through the open wall, which immediately closed, and was in the same state as before.

The cook, as soon as she had recovered from her fright, went to take up the fish which had fallen on the hot ashes, but found them as black as coals, and not fit to send to the sultan. At this she began to cry with all her might. "Alas!" said she, "what will become of me? I am sure when I tell what I have seen no one will believe me, and the sultan will be enraged."

       While she was thus distressed, the rand vizier entered and asked if the fish were ready. The cook then related all that had taken place, and he, without telling the sultan what had really happened, invented an excuse that satisfied him, and sent to the fisherman for four more fish. These the fisherman promised to bring the next morning.

He set out before it was day and went to the lake. Then he threw his net, and drawing it out found four fish like those he had taken the day previous, each of a different color. He returned directly and brought them to the grand vizier, who paid him handsomely and carried them to the kitchen. Then he shut himself up with only the cook, and when she had prepared the fish for frying she put them on the fire. The grand vizier then witnessed an exact repetition of all that the cook had told him.

"This is too extraordinary to be kept from the sultan's ears," he said. "I will go and inform him of this wonder."

The sultan was much surprised. He sent for the fisherman, and said to him, "Can you bring me four more such fish?"

"If your Majesty will grant me till to-morrow, I will do so," answered the fisherman.

He obtained the time he wished and went again to the lake. Just as usual, he caught four fish of different colors at the first throw of his net. He took them to the sultan, who expressed the greatest pleasure at seeing them, and ordered four hundred more pieces of money to be given to the fisherman.

The sultan had the fish conveyed into his private room with all that was necessary for frying them. Then he and the grand vizier shut themselves in the room, and the vizier put the fish on the fire in the pan. As soon as they were done on one side he turned them on the other. Immediately the wall of the room opened, but instead of the beautiful lady, there appeared a black man of gigantic stature dressed like a slave, and holding a large green staff in his hand. He advanced to the frying-pan, and touching one of the fish with his rod, he cried out in a terrible voice, "Fish, fish, art thou doing thy duty?"

At these words all the fish lifted up their heads and said, "Yes, yes, we are. If you reckon, we reckon. If you pay your debts, we pay ours. If you fly, we conquer and are content."

Then the black man overturned the frying-pan into the fire and entered the aperture in the wall, which closed, and the wall appeared as it did before.

The sultan was convinced that the fish signified something very extraordinary, and having learned from the fisherman that he caught them in a lake not more than three hours' journey from the palace, commanded all his court to mount horses and set out for the place, with the fisherman as a guide. When they arrived at the lake, the sultan, after observing the fish with great admiration, demanded of his courtiers if it were possible they had never seen this lake, which was within so short a distance of the city. They all said they had never so much as heard of it.

"I am not less astonished than you are at this novelty," said he, "and I am resolved not to return to my palace till I have found how this lake came here, and why all the fish in it are of four colors."

Having thus spoken, he ordered his court to encamp, and his own tent and the tents of his household were pitched on the borders of the lake.

When night came the sultan retired to his tent and talked with his grand vizier. "My mind is much disturbed," said he. "This lake suddenly placed here, the black man who appeared to us in my room, the fish too, which we heard speak   these things so excite my curiosity that I cannot conquer my impatience to know the meaning of them. I shall go quite alone from my camp, and try to solve the mystery. I order you to keep my departure a profound secret. Remain in my tent, and when my courtiers present themselves at the entrance to-morrow morning, send them away. Say I wish to be alone, and day by day make the same report till I come back."

The grand vizier endeavored to turn the sultan from his design, but in vain. As soon as everything in the camp was quiet the sultan took his cimeter and went out alone. He passed over one of the small hills and came down to a plain on which, when the sun rose, he perceived a grand palace built of polished black marble. Delighted that he had so soon met with something worthy of his curiosity, he went to the front of the palace and stopped before one of the doors, which was open. He waited some time, but saw no one. "If this palace be deserted," said he to himself, "I have nothing to fear, and if it be inhabited, I have wherewith to defend myself."

At last he entered, and called out as loud as he could. There was no answer. He passed on to a spacious court and could not discover a living creature. He then went into a superb hall in the middle of which was a large fountain with a lion of massive gold at each corner. The sultan wandered a long time from room to room until, being tired with walking, he sat down on a veranda which faced toward a garden full of all kinds of flowers and shrubs. Suddenly a plaintive voice from within the palace reached his ears. He listened attentively and heard these melancholy words: "Oh Fortune, thou hast not suffered me long to enjoy a happy lot! Cease to persecute me, and by a speedy death put an end to my sufferings."

The sultan immediately rose and went toward the spot whence the voice issued, and drawing a door-curtain aside saw a young man very richly dressed seated on a sort of throne. Deep sorrow was impressed on his countenance. The sultan approached and saluted him and the young man bowed, but did not get up. "My lord, I would rise to receive you," said he, "were it not that I am hindered by sad necessity. You will not therefore, I trust, take it ill."

"Whatever may be your motive for not rising," replied the sultan, "I willingly receive your apologies. I come to offer you my help. But inform me the meaning of the lake near this palace, where the fish are of four different colors; how, also, this palace came here; and why you are thus alone."

Instead of answering these questions the young man lifted his robe so the sultan perceived he was a living man only to his waist, and that thence to his feet he was changed into black marble. "What you show me," said the sultan, "fills me with horror. I am impatient to learn your history. Pray relate it, for the unhappy often experience relief in telling their sorrows."

"I will not refuse your request," replied the young man. "This is the kingdom of the Black Isles, of which my father was the ruler. On his death I succeeded him, and within a short time I married. My wife and I lived happily together for five years, when I began to perceive that she no longer loved me.

"One day, after dinner, she went to the garden and I lay down to sleep on a sofa. Two of her servant maids came and sat, one at my head and the other at my feet, with fans in their hands to moderate the heat and to prevent the flies from disturbing me. They thought I was asleep, and spoke in whispers, but as I had only closed my eyes I heard all their conversation.

"' Is not the queen wrong,' said one to the other, ' not to love so amiable a prince? '

"' Certainly,' was the reply, ' and I cannot understand why she goes out every night and leaves him. Does he not know of it? '

"' How could he? ' resumed the first. ' She mixes in his drink, every evening, the juice of a certain herb, which makes him sleep all night so soundly that she has time to go wherever she likes; and when at break of day she returns, she rouses him by the smell of some scent she puts under his nostrils.'

"I pretended to awake without having heard the conversation. That night, before I went to bed, the queen presented me the cup of water which it was usual for me to take, but instead of drinking it, I approached an open window and threw forth the water without her observing what I did. I then returned the cup into her hands, that she might believe I had drunk the contents. We soon retired to rest, and, shortly after, supposing that I was asleep, she got up, dressed herself and left the chamber. A few moments later there came to my ears the sound of a door closing softly behind her as she went out of the palace.

"I at once rose, dressed in haste, took my cimeter, and followed her so quickly that I soon heard the sound of her feet before me. I walked stealthily after her, and so continued until she entered a little wood whose paths were guarded by thick hedges. Here she was joined by a man, and from behind a hedgerow I listened while she offered to fly with him to another land. Enraged at this I leaped forth from my concealment, and struck him with my cimeter. He fell and I retired in haste and secrecy to the palace.

"Although I had inflicted a mortal wound, yet the queen by her enchantments contrived to preserve in her lover that trance-like existence which can neither be called death nor life. On her return to our chamber she was absorbed in grief, and when the day dawned she requested my permission to build a tomb for herself on the grounds of the palace, where she would continue, she told me, to the end of her days.

"I consented, and she built a stately edifice and called it the Palace of Tears. When it was finished, she caused her lover to be conveyed thither from the place to which he had been carried the night I wounded him. She had hitherto prevented his dying by potions she administered, and she continued to give them to him every day after he came to the Palace of Tears.

"Some time later I went myself to the tomb the queen had built, and hearing her address the inanimate body in words of passionate affection, I lost all patience and drew my cimeter to punish her.

"Moderate your rage,' said she to me with a disdainful smile, and then pronounced some magic words and added, By my enchantments, I command you to become half marble and half man.'

"Immediately, my lord, I became what I now am. As soon as this cruel sorceress had thus transformed me and by her magic had conveyed me to this apartment, she destroyed my capital by reducing the site of it to the lake and desert plain you have seen. The fishes of four colors in the lake are the four kinds of inhabitants of different religions which the city contained. The white are the Mohammedans, the red the Fire Worshippers, the blue the Christians, and the yellow the Jews. The enchantress; to add to my affliction, comes every day and gives me on my naked back a hundred lashes with a whip."

When he reached this part of his narrative, the young king could not restrain his tears, and the sultan was himself greatly affected. "No one could have experienced a more extraordinary fate than yourself," said the sultan. "One thing only is wanting to complete your history, and that is, for you to be revenged."

The sultan having informed the prince who he was and the reason of his entering the palace, consulted with him on the best means of punishing the wicked queen. A plan was agreed on, and the sultan proceeded to the Palace of Tears. He found it lighted with a great number of torches of white wax, and perfumed by a delicious scent issuing from several censers of fine gold. As soon as he saw the couch on which the form of the lover was laid, he destroyed with his cimeter the little remains of life left, and dragging the body into the outer court, threw it into the well. After this he lay down on the couch, placed his cimeter under the covering, and waited to complete his design.

The queen arrived shortly after in the apartment of her husband, the King of the Black Isles. On her approach, the unfortunate king filled the palace with his lamentations and begged her to take pity on him. She, however, ceased not to beat him till she had completed the hundred stripes. She next went to the Palace of Tears. "Alas!" cried she, addressing herself to the sultan whom she took for her lover, "wilt thou always, light of my life, preserve this silence?"

Then the sultan, lowering his voice as if in great weakness, spoke a few words. The sorceress gave a violent scream through excess of joy. "My dear lord!" she exclaimed, "is it really you whom I hear speak?"

"Wretched woman," replied the sultan, "are you worthy of an answer?"

"What! Do you reproach me?" said the queen.

"The cries, the tears, the groans of your husband whom you every day beat with so much cruelty prevent my rest," answered the supposed lover. "I should have long since recovered the use of my tongue if you had disenchanted him."

"Well then," said she, "I am ready to obey your commands. Would you have me restore him?"

"Yes," replied the sultan, "make haste and set him at liberty that I be no longer disturbed by his moanings."

The queen immediately went out from the Palace of Tears, and taking a vessel of water, proceeded to the apartment where the young king was. "Reassume your natural form," said she, throwing the water over him.

At once the marble limbs of the king became flesh, and he rose with all possible joy. "Go from this palace and never return," ordered the enchantress.

The young king, yielding to necessity, retired to a remote place where he awaited the appearance of the sultan. Meanwhile the enchantress returned to the Palace of Tears, and supposing that she still spoke to her lover, said, "I have done what you wished me to do."

The sultan, disguising his voice as before, said in a low tone, "What you have yet done is not sufficient for my cure. You have destroyed only a part of the evil, but you must strike at the root."

"What do you mean by the root, dear heart?" she asked.

"I allude to the town and its inhabitants," he replied. "The fish every midnight raise their heads out of the water and cry for vengeance against you and me. This is what delays my cure. Go speedily and restore things to their former state. At your return I will give you my hand and you shall help me to rise."

The enchantress, inspired with hope from these words, went that instant, and when she came to the border of the lake, she took a little water in her hand, and scattered it about. She had no sooner done so and pronounced certain words than the city appeared and the fish became men, women and children, and the houses and shops and everything were restored to the same condition as before the enchantment. Now the sorceress hastened back to the Palace of Tears. "My dear lord," she cried on entering, "I have done all you have required of me. Give me your hand and arise."

He reached forth his hand and she helped him to his feet, when, without a moment's warning he slew her with a blow of his cimeter. This done, he went to join the young King of the Black Isles. "Rejoice," said he, "you have nothing more to fear. Your cruel enemy is dead. Henceforward you may dwell peaceably in your capital, unless you will accompany me to mine which is near. You shall there be welcome and have as much honor and respect shown you as if you were in your own kingdom."

"Potent monarch to whom I owe so much," said the king, "you think then that you are near your capital?"

"Yes," replied the sultan, "it is not more than two or three hours' journey."

"It is a whole year's journey," the king declared.

"I do indeed believe that you came hither in the time you mention, but, since my domain has been disenchanted, things are different. This however shall not prevent my following you to the ends of the earth."

The sultan, who was extremely surprised to understand that he was so far from his kingdom, said, "The long journey to my own country is sufficiently repaid by acquiring you for a son, since I intend, as I have no child, to make you my heir and successor."

After a few days for preparation they began their journey, taking with them a hundred camels laden with riches from the treasury of the young king. For a twelve-month they were on the way, and then they arrived at the sultan's capital, where the inhabitants welcomed them with every sign of joy. The next day the sultan assembled his people and declared to them his intention of adopting the King of the Black Isles. Then he bestowed presents on all, according to each person's rank and station, and he did not forget the fisherman, but made him and his family happy and comfortable for the rest of their days.