burton--1001-nights--sample

hood, he repaired to another city where he bought himself a piece of
land in which was a dried up draw-well, old and in ruinous condition.
Here he built him an oratory and, furnishing it with a few necessaries,
took up his abode therein, and devoted himself to prayer and worshipping
Allah Almighty; and Fakirs and holy mendicants flocked to
him from all quarters; and his fame went abroad through the city and
that country side.
Presently the news reached his envious neighbour, of what good
fortune had befallen him and how the city notables had become his
disciples; so he travelled to the place and presented himself at the holy
man’s hermitage, and was met by the Envied with welcome and
greeting and all honour. Then quoth the Envier, “I have a word to say
to thee; and this is the cause of my faring hither, and I wish to give
thee a piece of good news; so come with me to thy cell.” Thereupon
the Envied arose and took the Envier by the hand, and they went in to
the inmost part of the hermitage; but the Envier said, “Bid thy Fakirs
retire to their cells, for I will not tell thee what I have to say, save in
secret where none may hear us.” Accordingly the Envied said to his
Fakirs, “Retire to your private cells;” and, when all had done as he
bade them, he set out with his visitor and walked a little way until the
twain reached the ruinous old well. And as they stood upon the brink
the Envier gave the Envied a push which tumbled him headlong into it,
unseen of any; whereupon he fared forth, and went his ways, thinking
to have had slain him.
Now this well happened to be haunted by the Jann who, seeing the
case, bore him up and let him down little by little, till he reached the
bottom, when they seated him upon a large stone. Then one of them
asked his fellows, “Wot ye who be this man?” and they answered,
“Nay.” “This man,” continued the speaker, “is the Envied hight who,
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