The Story of the Fisherman with the Efreet
Finally, the king kills the witch and returns to his city with the young man, whom he adopts as his son.
And to reward the fisherman he gives him an important government job. Then, the king and his new son marry the two daughters of the fisherman.
And immediately after finishing this story, Sheherazada starts another one.
ON THE ELEVENTH NIGHT
Sheherazade said:
It happened to me, O fortunate King, that when the young witch took a little water from the lake and spoke mysterious words over it, the fish began to stir and raised their heads and became sons of Adam again at the very moment, and the magic was untied which held the inhabitants of the city. And the city became a thriving city with well-built souks, and every inhabitant set about plying his trade. And the mountains became islands as before. After which, the young woman immediately returned to the king, still believing that he was her black lover, and said to him: “O my darling, give me your generous hand so that I may kiss it!" And the king answered her in a low voice: "Come close to me!" She approached. And suddenly he seized his good sword and pierced his breast so hard that the point came out through his back; then he struck her again and cut her in two halves. This done, he went out and found the bewitched young man standing there waiting for him. Then he complimented him on his deliverance, and the young man kissed his hand and thanked him profusely. Then the king said to him: "Do you want to stay in your city or come with me to my city?" And the young man said to him: “O king of times, do you know how far it is from here to your city?" And the king said: "Two and a half days." Then the young man said to him: “O king, if you are asleep, wake up! From here to go to your city, you will take a whole year, with the will of Allah! Because if you came here in two and a half days, it's because the city was bewitched. Besides, I, O king, will not leave you for an instant!" And the king rejoiced at these words, and said: "Praise be to Allah who was willing to put you on my way! For henceforth you are my son, since Allah has hitherto granted me no children!" So they embraced each other and rejoiced beyond joy.
Then they began to walk to the palace of the young king who had been bewitched. And the young king announced to the notables of his kingdom that he was going to leave for the holy pilgrimage to Mecca. So we made all the necessary preparations for him. Then he and the sultan departed, and the sultan's heart burned for his city, for he had been absent from it for a year. So they set out, having with them fifty mamelukes laden with gifts to offer. And they kept traveling day and night for a whole year until they were near the sultan's city. Then the vizier went out with the soldiers to meet the sultan, after having despaired of finding him. And the soldiers came and kissed the earth between his hands, and bade him welcome. So he entered the palace and sat on the throne. Then he called the vizier near him and informed him of everything that had happened. When the vizier learned of the young man's story, he complimented him on his deliverance and salvation.
Meanwhile, the sultan gratified many persons; then he said to the vizier: “Quickly bring here the fisherman who once brought the fish to me." And the vizier sent for the fisherman who had been the cause of the deliverance of the inhabitants of the city. And the king brought him near and gave him robes of honor, and asked him about his life, and asked him if he had any children, and the fisherman told him he has a son and two daughters. So the king married one of the two daughters, and the young man married the other. Then the king kept the father close to him and appointed him chief treasurer-cashier. Then he sent the vizier to the city of the young man, situated in the Black Isles, appointed him sultan of these islands, and sent with him the fifty mamelukes who had formerly accompanied him and sent with him many robes of honor for all the emirs. Then the vizier kissed both his hands and went out to depart. And the sultan and the young man continued to live together. As for the fisherman, who became chief treasurer-cashier, he grew much richer and became the richest man of his time. And his two daughters were wives of kings. And it was in this state that they died!
But, continued Sheherazade, don't think that this story is more marvelous than that of the Porter.
THE STORY OF THE PORTER WITH THE YOUNG LADIES
There was a man in the city of Baghdad who was single and also a porter.
One of the days, while he was in the souk, nonchalantly leaning on his carrying basket, there stopped in front of him a woman wrapped in her ample veil of Mosul fabric, silk sprinkled with gold sequins. and lined with brocade. She lifted her little face-veil a little, and from below then appeared black eyes with long eyelashes and what lids! And she was slender and fine in extremities, perfect in qualities. Then she said with the sweetness of her pronunciation: "O porter, take your carrying basket and follow me! And the porter, completely taken aback, could not believe the words heard; however, he took his basket and followed the young woman, who finally stopped in front of the door of a house...
— At this point in her narration, Scheherazade saw the morning appear and quietly fell silent.
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