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ut； when I visited thee in thy bath； thou entreatedst me hospitably； and I will requite thee thy hospitality by setting thee free and sending thee back to thine own country。〃 Then he laid a great stone in the sack and cast it into the sea in my stead； but； when thou signedst to him to throw me in； thy sealring dropped from thy finger into the sea； and a fish swallowed it。
Now I was on the island； fishing； and this fish came up ＇in the ＇ with others； whereupon I took it； thinking to broil it； but； when I opened its maw； I found the ring therein； so I took it and put it on my finger。 Presently； up came two of the servants of the kitchen； in quest of fish； and I signed to them with my hand； knowing not the property of the ring； and their heads fell off。 Then the captain came back and seeing the ring on my finger； acquainted me with its enchantment； and behold； I have brought it back to thee； for that thou dealtest bounteously by me and entreatedst me with the utmost generosity； nor is that which thou hast done me of kindness lost upon me。 Here is thy ring； take it； and if I have done with thee aught deserving of death； tell me my crime and slay me and thou shalt be quit of my blood。' So saying； he pulled the ring from his finger and gave it to the king； who put it on and his life returned to him。
Then he rose to his feet and embracing Abousir； said to him； 'O man； thou art indeed of the flower of the noble！ Bear me not malice； but five me the wrong I have done thee。 Had any but thou e by this ring； he had never restored it to me。' 'O king of the age；' answered Abousir； 'if thou wouldst have me five thee； tell me what was my offence that drew down thine anger upon me； so that thou mandedst to put me to death。' 'By Allah；' rejoined the king； 'it is clear to me that thou art altogether guiltless of offence； since thou hast done this good deed； only the dyer denounced thee to me；' and he told him all that Aboukir had said。 'By Allah； O king of the age；' replied Abousir； 'I know not the King of the Christians and have never journeyed to their country； nor did it ever enter my thought to kill thee； but this dyer was my rade and neighbour in the city of Alexandria； and life was straitened upon us there； wherefore we departed thence； to seek our fortunes； by reason of the straitness of our livelihood there； after we had recited the first chapter of the Koran together ＇in token of our agreement＇ that he who got work should feed him who lacked thereof； and there befell me with him such and such things。'
Then he went on to relate to the king all that had befallen him with the dyer； how he had robbed him and left him alone and sick in the khan and how the porter had fed him of his own monies till God recovered him of his sickness； when he went forth and walked about the city with his shaving gear； as of his wont； till he espied a dyery； about which the folk were crowding； so he looked at the door and seeing Aboukir seated on a bench there； went in to salute him； whereupon he accused him of being a thief and beat him grievously； brief； he told him his whole story； from first to last； and added； 'O king of the age； it was he who counselled me to make the depilatory and present it to thee； saying； 〃The bath is perfect in all things but that it lacketh this；〃 and know； O king； that this unguent is harmless and we use it in our country； where it is one of the requisites of the bath； but I had fotten it： so； when he visited the bath； I entreated him with honour and he reminded me thereof。 But do thou send after the porter of such a khan and the workmen of the dyery and question them all of that which I have told thee。'
So the king sent for them and questioned them and they acquainted him with the truth of the matter。 Then he sent to fetch the dyer； bidding bring him barefoot and bareheaded； with his hands bound behind him。 Now he was sitting in his house； rejoicing in Abousir's ＇supposed＇ death； when； before he could be ware； the king's guards rushed in upon him and cuffed him on the nape of the neck； after which they bound him and carried him into the royal presence； where he saw Abousir seated by the king's side and the porter and workmen of the dyery standing before him。 Quoth the porter to him； 'Is not this thy rade whom thou robbedst of his money and leftest with me sick in the khan？' And the workmen said to him； 'Is not this he whom thou badest us seize and beat？'
Therewith Aboukir's baseness was made manifest to the king and he was certified that he merited a punishment yet sorer than that which Munker and Neckir （194） deal ＇to the wicked after death＇。 So he upbraided him and said to his guards； 'Take him and parade him about the city and the markets； then lay him in a sack and cast him into the sea。' Whereupon quoth Abousir； 'O king of the age； accept my intercession for him； for I pardon him all he hath done with me。' 'If thou pardon him his offences against thee；' answered the king； 'I cannot pardon him his offences against me。' And he cried out； saying； 'Take him。' So they took him and paraded him about the city； after which they laid him in a sack into the sea； and he died； drowned and burnt。
Then said the king to the barber； 'O Abousir； ask of me what thou wilt and it shall be given thee。' And he answered； saying； 'I ask of thee to send me back to my own country； for I care no longer to abide here。' Then the king offered to make him his vizier； but he consented not； so he gave him great store of gifts； over and above that which he had bestowed on him aforetime； and amongst the rest a galleon laden with goods； and the crew of this galleon were slaves； so he gave him these also。 Then he took leave of the king and set sail； nor did he cast anchor till he reached Alexandria and made fast to the shore there。 Then they landed and one of his servants； seeing a sack on the beach； said to Abousir； 'O my lord； there is a great heavy sack on the seashore； with the mouth tied up and I know not what therein。' So Abousir came up and opening the sack； found therein the dead body of Aboukir； which the sea had borne thither。 He took it forth and burying it near Alexandria； built over the grave a place of visitation and endowed it for pious uses； writing over the door the following verses：
A man is by his actions known among his fellows aye： The actions of the freeborn man his generous birth betray。
Backbite not any； lest thyself backbitten be in tarn。 Whososaith aught； his fellowmen the like of him will say。
Abstain from lewd and ribald words： I rede thee speak them not At any time； or if it be in earnest or in play。
The dog； good manners if he use； Is suffered in the house； The lion； of his ignorance； is fettered night and day。
The carrion of the waste floats up upon the topmost sea； Whilst on the lowest of its sands the pearls neglected stay。
But for its featherheadedness and levity of wit； The sparrow never with the hawk to jostle would essay。
Lo； on the pages of the air is written； in the sky； 'Whoso doth good； the like thereof his actions shall repay。'
Beware of gathering sugar； then； from out the colocynth： Still in the tasting will the thing its origin bewray。
After this Abousir abode awhile； till God took him to Himself and they buried him hard by the tomb of his rade Aboukir； wherefore the place was called Aboukir and Abousir； but it is now known as Aboukir ＇only＇。 This； then； is that which hath reached us of their history； and glory be to Him who endureth for ever and by whose will the days and nights succeed each other！
ABDALLAH THE FISHERMAN AND ABDALLAH THE MERMAN。
There was once a fisherman named Abdallah； who had a wife and nine children and was very poor； owning nothing but his 。 Every day he used to go to the sea to fish； and if he caught little； he sold it and spent the price on his children； after the measure of that which God vouchsafed him of provision； but； if he caught much； he would cook a good mess of meat and buy fruit and spend without stint till nothing was left him； saying in himself； 'Tomorrow's provision will e tomorrow。' Presently； his wife gave birth to another child； making ten in all； and it chanced that day that he had nothing at all； so she said to him； 'O my master； see ＇and get＇ me wherewithal I may sustain myself。' Quoth he； 'Under favour of God the Most High； I am going today to the sea； to fish in the name of this newborn child； that we may see its luck。' And she answered； 'Put thy trust in God。'
So he took his and went down to the seashore； where he cast it in the name of the little child； saying； 'O my God； make his living easy； not hard； and abundant； not scant！' Then he waited awhile and drew in the ； which came up full of rubbish and sand and pebbles and weeds； and he found therein no fish； neither much not little。 He cast it again and waited； then drew it in； but found no fish in it； and threw it a third and a fourth and a fifth time； with no better success。 So he removed to another place； beseeching God the Most High to grant him his daily bread； and thus he did till the end of the day； but caught not so much as a sprat； whereat he fell amarvelling in himself and said； 'Hath God then created this newborn child； without ＇an appointed＇ provision？ This may n