The Arabian Nights | Page 7

that he was expecting.
The next morning, before the day broke, Dinarzade said to her sister, "Dear sister, if you
are awake I pray you to go on with your story."
The Sultan did not wait for Scheherazade to ask his leave. "Finish," said he, "the story of
the genius and the merchant. I am curious to hear the end."
So Scheherazade went on with the story. This happened every morning. The Sultana told
a story, and the Sultan let her live to finish it.
When the merchant saw that the genius was determined to cut off his head, he said: "One
word more, I entreat you. Grant me a little delay; just a short time to go home and bid my
wife and children farewell, and to make my will. When I have done this I will come back
here, and you shall kill me."
"But," said the genius, "if I grant you the delay you ask, I am afraid that you will not

come back."
"I give you my word of honour," answered the merchant, "that I will come back without
fail."
"How long do you require?" asked the genius.
"I ask you for a year's grace," replied the merchant. "I promise you that to-morrow
twelvemonth, I shall be waiting under these trees to give myself up to you."
On this the genius left him near the fountain and disappeared.
The merchant, having recovered from his fright, mounted his horse and went on his road.
When he arrived home his wife and children received him with the greatest joy. But
instead of embracing them he began to weep so bitterly that they soon guessed that
something terrible was the matter.
"Tell us, I pray you," said his wife, "what has happened."
"Alas!" answered her husband, "I have only a year to live."
Then he told them what had passed between him and the genius, and how he had given
his word to return at the end of a year to be killed. When they heard this sad news they
were in despair, and wept much.
The next day the merchant began to settle his affairs, and first of all to pay his debts. He
gave presents to his friends, and large alms to the poor. He set his slaves at liberty, and
provided for his wife and children. The year soon passed away, and he was obliged to
depart. When he tried to say good-bye he was quite overcome with grief, and with
difficulty tore himself away. At length he reached the place where he had first seen the
genius, on the very day that he had appointed. He dismounted, and sat down at the edge
of the fountain, where he awaited the genius in terrible suspense.
Whilst he was thus waiting an old man leading a hind came towards him. They greeted
one another, and then the old man said to him, "May I ask, brother, what brought you to
this desert place, where there are so many evil genii about? To see these beautiful trees
one would imagine it was inhabited, but it is a dangerous place to stop long in."
The merchant told the old man why he was obliged to come there. He listened in
astonishment.
"This is a most marvellous affair. I should like to be a witness of your interview with the
genius." So saying he sat down by the merchant.
While they were talking another old man came up, followed by two black dogs. He
greeted them, and asked what they were doing in this place. The old man who was
leading the hind told him the adventure of the merchant and the genius. The second old

man had not sooner heard the story than he, too, decided to stay there to see what would
happen. He sat down by the others, and was talking, when a third old man arrived. He
asked why the merchant who was with them looked so sad. They told him the story, and
he also resolved to see what would pass between the genius and the merchant, so waited
with the rest.
They soon saw in the distance a thick smoke, like a cloud of dust. This smoke came
nearer and nearer, and then, all at once, it vanished, and they saw the genius, who,
without speaking to them, approached the merchant, sword in hand, and, taking him by
the arm, said, "Get up and let me kill you as you killed my son."
The merchant and the three old men began to weep and groan.
Then the old man leading the hind threw himself at the monster's feet and said, "O Prince
of the Genii, I beg of you to stay your fury and to listen to me. I am going to tell you my
story