Page 194 - Child's own book

comely size. She was clad in flowered satin, after the Egyptian
manner, with jH-ndants in her ears, a necklace of large pearls,
and bracelets of gold. garnished with rubies, and a rod of myrtle
in her hand. She came towards the frying-pan, to the great
amazement of the cook-maid, who continued immovable at the
sight, and striking one of the fishes with (he end of the rod,
says, “ Fish, fish, art thou in thy duty?” the fish having
answered nothing, she repented these words, and then the four
fishes lifted up their heads all together, and said to her, u Yes,
yes; if you reckon, we reckon ; if you pay your debts, wc pay
ours; if you fly, we overcome, and arc content.” As soon as
they had finished those words, the lady overturned the frying-
pan, and entered again into the open part of the wall, which
shut immediately, and became as it was before.
* *
The cook-maid was mightily frightened at this ; and,coming
a little to herself, went to take up the fishes that fell upon the
hearth, but found them blacker than coal, and not fit to be
carried to the sultan. She was grievously troubled at it, and
fell to weeping most bitterly. “ Alas! " says she, tLwhat will
become of m e?'’ If I tell (he sultan what I have seen, I am
sure he will not believe me, hut will he enraged against me,”
While she was thus bewailing herself, in came the grand vizier,
and asked her if the fishes were rendv? She told him all that
*>
had happened, which we may easily imagine astonished him ;
but, without speaking a word of it to the sultan, lie invented
an excuse (hat satisfied him ; and, sending immediately for the
fisherman, bade him bring four more such fish, for a misfortune
had liefallen the others, that they were not fit to be carried to
the sultan. The fisherman, without saying anything of what
the genie had told liim, in order to excuse himself from bringing:
them that very day, told the vizier he had a great way to go for
them, but would certainly bring them to-morrow* Accordingly