burton--1001-nights--sample

asleep, sprinkle this liquid upon her and speak what words thou
heardest me utter, so shall she become whatsoever thou desirest.”
I went to my wife and found her fast asleep; and, while sprinkling
the water upon her, I said, “Come forth from that form into the form of
a mare-mule.” So she became on the instant a she-mule, and she it is
whom thou seest with thine eyes, O Sultan and head of the Kings of
the Jann!
Then the Jinni turned towards her and said, “Is this sooth?” And
she nodded her head and replied by signs, “Indeed, ’tis the truth: for
such is my tale and this is what hath befallen me.”
Now when the old man had ceased speaking the Jinni shook with
pleasure and gave him the third of the merchant’s blood. —
And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say. Then quoth Dunyazad, “O, my sister, how pleasant is
thy tale, and how tasteful; how sweet and how grateful!” She replied,
“And what is this compared with that I could tell thee, the night to
come, if I live and the King spare me?” Then thought the King, “By
Allah, I will not slay her until I hear the rest of her tale, for truly it is
wondrous.” So they rested that night in mutual embrace until the
dawn. After this the King went forth to his Hall of Estate, and the
Wazir and the troops came in and the court was crowded, and the King
gave orders and judged and appointed and deposed, bidding and
forbidding during the rest of the day. Then the Divan broke up, and
King Shahryar entered his palace.
Now when it was the Third Night,
and the King had had his will of the Wazir’s daughter, Dunyazad, her
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