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She went up to the
pan, to the great astonishment of the cook, who stood motionless at the
sight of her. She struck one of the fish with her rod, "Fish, fish,"
said she, "are you doing your duty?" The fish answered nothing, and then
she repeated her question, whereupon they all raised their heads
together and answered very distinctly, "Yes, yes. If you reckon, we
reckon. If you pay your debts, we pay ours. If you fly, we conquer, and
we are content."
When they had spoken the girl upset the pan, and entered the opening
in the wall, which at once closed, and appeared the same as before.
Heading One
When the cook had recovered from her fright she lifted up the fish
which had fallen into the ashes, but she found them as black as cinders,
and not fit to serve up to the Sultan. She began to cry.
"Alas! what shall I say to the Sultan? He will be so angry with me,
and I know he will not believe me!"
Whilst she was crying the grand-vizir came in and asked if the fish
were ready. She told him all that had happened, and he was much
surprised. He sent at once for the fisherman, and when he came said to
him, "Fisherman, bring me four more fish like you have brought already,
for an accident has happened to them so that they cannot be served up to
the Sultan."
Heading Two
The fisherman did not say what the genius had told him, but he
excused himself from bringing them that day on account of the length of
the way, and he promised to bring them next day.
In the night he went to the lake, cast his nets, and on drawing them
in found four fish, which were like the others, each of a different
colour.
He went back at once and carried them to the grand-vizir as he had
promised.
He then took them to the kitchen and shut himself up with the cook,
who began to cook them as she had done the four others on the previous
day. When she was about to turn them on the other side, the wall opened,
the damsel appeared, addressed the same words to the fish, received the
same answer, and then overturned the pan and disappeared.
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The grand-vizir was filled with astonishment. "I shall tell the
Sultan all that has happened," said he. And he did so.
The Sultan was very much astounded, and wished to see this marvel for
himself. So he sent for the fisherman, and asked him to procure four
more fish. The fisherman asked for three days, which were granted, and
he then cast his nets in the lake, and again caught four different
coloured fish. The sultan was delighted to see he had got them, and gave
him again four hundred gold pieces.
As soon as the Sultan had the fish he had them carried to his room
with all that was needed to cook them.
- Item one
- Item two
- Item three
Then he shut himself up with the grand-vizir, who began to prepare
them and cook them. When they were done on one side he turned them over
on the other. Then the wall of the room opened, but instead of the
maiden a black slave came out. He was enormously tall, and carried a
large green stick with which he touched the fish, saying in a terrible
voice, "Fish, fish, are you doing your duty?" To these words the fish
lifting up their heads replied, "Yes, yes. If you reckon, we reckon. If
you pay your debts, we pay ours. If you fly, we conquer, and are
content."
The black slave overturned the pan in the middle of the room, and the
fish were turned to cinders. Then he stepped proudly back into the wall,
which closed round him.
"After having seen this," said the Sultan, "I cannot rest. These fish
signify some mystery I must clear up."
He sent for the fisherman. "Fisherman," he said, "the fish you have
brought us have caused me some anxiety. Where did you get them from?"
"Sire," he answered, "I got them from a lake which lies in the middle
of four hills beyond yonder mountains."
"Do you know this lake?" asked the Sultan of the grand-vizir.
"No; though I have hunted many times round that mountain, I have
never heard of it," said the vizir.
As the fisherman said it was only three hours' journey away, the
sultan ordered his whole court to mount and ride thither, and the
fisherman led them.
They climbed the mountain, and then, on the other side, saw the lake
as the fisherman had described. The water was so clear that they could
see the four kinds of fish swimming about in it. They looked at them for
some time, and then the Sultan ordered them to make a camp by the edge
of the water.
When night came the Sultan called his vizir, and said to him, "I have
resolved to clear up this mystery. I am going out alone, and do you stay
here in my tent, and when my ministers come to-morrow, say I am not
well, and cannot see them. Do this each day till I return."
The grand-vizir tried to persuade the Sultan not to go, but in vain.
The Sultan took off his state robe and put on his sword, and when he saw
all was quiet in the camp he set forth alone.
He climbed one of the hills, and then crossed the great plain, till,
just as the sun rose, he beheld far in front of him a large building.
When he came near to it he saw it was a splendid palace of beautiful
black polished marble, covered with steel as smooth as a mirror.
He went to the gate, which stood half open, and went in, as nobody
came when he knocked. He passed through a magnificent courtyard and
still saw no one, though he called aloud several times.
He entered large halls where the carpets were of silk, the lounges
and sofas covered with tapestry from Mecca, and the hangings of the most
beautiful Indian stuffs of gold and silver. Then he found himself in a
splendid room, with a fountain supported by golden lions. The water out
of the lions' mouths turned into diamonds and pearls, and the leaping
water almost touched a most beautifully-painted dome. The palace was
surrounded on three sides by magnificent gardens, little lakes, and
woods. Birds sang in the trees, which were netted over to keep them
always there.
Still the Sultan saw no one, till he heard a plaintive cry, and a
voice which said, "Oh that I could die, for I am too unhappy to wish to
live any longer!"
Continued
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