The Story of the Vizir Who Was Punished 3

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. 

 

The grand-vizir was filled with astonishment¹. "I shall tell the Sultan all that has happened," said he. And he did so. 

 

The Sultan was very much astounded², and wished to see this marvel³（奇迹） for himself. So he sent for the fisherman, and asked him to procure⁴ 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. 

 

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 maiden⁵ 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（估计，计算）, 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 cinders⁶. 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（表示，意味） 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 thither⁷, 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 forth⁸ alone. 

 

He climbed one of the hills, and then crossed the great plain, till, just as the sun rose, he beheld⁹ 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 tapestry¹⁰ 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 dome¹¹. 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 plaintive¹²（悲伤的） cry, and a voice which said, "Oh that I could die, for I am too unhappy to wish to live any longer!" 

 

The Sultan looked round to discover who it was who thus bemoaned¹³ his fate, and at last saw a handsome young man, richly clothed, who was sitting on a throne raised slightly from the ground. His face was very sad. 

 

The sultan approached him and bowed to him. The young man bent¹⁴ his head very low, but did not rise. 

 

"Sire," he said to the Sultan, "I cannot rise and do you the reverence¹⁵ that I am sure should be paid to your rank." 

 

"Sir," answered the Sultan, "I am sure you have a good reason for not doing so, and having heard your cry of distress¹⁶, I am come to offer you my help. Whose is this palace, and why is it thus empty?" 

 

Instead of answering the young man lifted up his robe, and showed the Sultan that, from the waist downwards¹⁷, he was a block of black marble. 

 

The Sultan was horrified¹⁸, and begged the young man to tell him his story. 

 

"Willingly I will tell you my sad history," said the young man.

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