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thou say to me, ‘I sell thee my ape for thine ape and my luck for thy luck.’” If he say this, give him the fish and I shall become thine ape and this mangy, one-eyed cripple will be his ape.’
‘Good, O ape,’ replied Khelif, [and shouldering his basket, made for Baghdad], nor did he cease going and observing that which the ape had said to him, till he came to the Jew’s shop and saw him seated, with slaves and servants about him, commanding and forbidding and giving and taking. So he said to him, ‘O Sultan of the Jews, I am a fisherman and went forth to-day to the Tigris and cast my net in thy name, saying, “This is for the luck of Aboussaadat;” and there came up to me this carp, which I have brought thee by way of present.’
So saying, he lifted the grass and discovered the fish to the Jew, who marvelled at its fashion and said, ‘Extolled be the perfection of the Most Excellent Creator!’ Then he gave the fisherman a dinar, but he refused it and he gave him two. This also he refused and the Jew went on adding to his offer, till he made it ten dinars; but he still refused and Aboussaadat said to him, ‘By Allah, thou art covetous, O Muslim! Tell me what thou wouldst have.’ Quoth Khelif, ‘I want of thee but a single word.’
When the Jew heard this, he changed colour and said, ‘Wouldst thou have me forsake my faith?[1] Go thy ways.’ But Khelif said to him, ‘By Allah, O Jew, it is nought to me if thou become a Muslim or a Christian!’ ‘Then what wouldst thou have me say?’ asked the Jew, and the fisherman answered, ‘Say, “I sell thee my ape for thy ape and my luck for thy luck.”’ The Jew laughed, deeming him little of wit, and said by way of jest, ‘I sell thee my ape for thy ape and my luck for thy luck. Bear
- ↑ Thinking that by requiring of him “a single word,” he meant him to say, “I testify that there is no god, etc.,” and so become a Muslim.
