burton--1001-nights--sample

man. I descended the mountain and found at the foot a desert plain,
long and broad, over which I travelled for the space of a month till my
course brought me to the brink of the briny sea. After standing there
awhile, I was ware of a ship in the offing which ran before a fair wind
making for the shore. I hid myself behind a rock on the beach and
waited till the ship drew near, when I leaped on board.
I found her full of merchants and passengers and one of them
cried, “O Captain, this ill-omened brute will bring us ill-luck!” and
another said, “Turn this ill-omened beast out from among us;” the
Captain said, “Let us kill it!” another said, “Slay it with the sword;”
a third, “Drown it;” and a fourth, “Shoot it with an arrow.” But I
sprang up and laid hold of the Rais’s 52 skirt, and shed tears which
poured down my chops. The Captain took pity on me, and said, “O
merchants! this ape hath appealed to me for protection and I will
protect him; henceforth he is under my charge: so let none do him
aught hurt or harm, otherwise there will be bad blood between us.”
Then he entreated me kindly and whatsoever he said I understood and
ministered to his every want and served him as a servant, albeit my
tongue would not obey my wishes; so that he came to love me.
The vessel sailed on, the wind being fair, for the space of fifty days;
at the end of which we cast anchor under the walls of a great city
wherein was a world of people, especially learned men, none could tell
their number save Allah. No sooner had we arrived than we were
visited by certain Mameluke-officials from the King of that city; who,
after boarding us, greeted the merchants and giving them joy of safe
arrival said, “Our King welcometh you, and sendeth you this roll of
paper, whereupon each and every of you must write a line. For ye shall
52
The Captain or Master of the ship (not the owner).
178