burton--1001-nights--sample

coloured fishes, white and red, blue and yellow; however he cast his
net and, hauling it in, saw that he had netted four fishes, one of each
colour. Thereat he rejoiced greatly and more when the Ifrit said to him,
“Carry these to the Sultan and set them in his presence; then he will
give thee what shall make thee a wealthy man; and now accept my
excuse, for by Allah at this time I wot none other way of benefiting
thee, inasmuch I have lain in this sea eighteen hundred years and have
not seen the face of the world save within this hour. But I would not
have thee fish here save once a day.” The Ifrit then gave him Godspeed,
saying, “Allah grant we meet again;” and struck the earth with one foot,
whereupon the ground clove asunder and swallowed him up.
The Fisherman, much marvelling at what had happened to him
with the Ifrit, took the fish and made for the city; and as soon as he
reached home he filled an earthen bowl with water and therein threw
the fish which began to struggle and wriggle about. Then he bore off
the bowl upon his head and, repairing to the King’s palace (even as the
Ifrit had bidden him) laid the fish before the presence; and the King
wondered with exceeding wonder at the sight, for never in his lifetime
had he seen fishes like these in quality or in conformation. So he said,
“Give those fish to the stranger slave-girl who now cooketh for us,”
meaning the bond-maiden whom the King of Roum had sent to him
only three days before, so that he had not yet made trial of her talents
in the dressing of meat. Thereupon the Wazir carried the fish to the
cook and bade her fry them, saying, “O damsel, the King sendeth this
say to thee: — I have not treasured thee, O tear o’ me! save for stresstime
of me; approve, then, to us this day thy delicate handiwork and
thy savoury cooking; for this dish of fish is a present sent to the Sultan
and evidently a rarity.”
The Wazir, after he had carefully charged her, returned to the King,
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