rejoiced him: "I will
sell it," said he, "to the founder, and with the money buy a measure of
corn." He examined the vessel on all sides, and shook it to see if its
contents made any noise, but heard nothing. This circumstance, with the
impression of the seal upon the cover, made him think it enclosed
something precious. To try this, he took a knife and opened it with very
little labour. He turned the mouth downward, but nothing came out, which
surprised him extremely. He placed it before him, but while he viewed it
attentively, there burst forth a very thick smoke, which obliged him to
retire two or three paces back.

The smoke ascended to the clouds, and, extending itself along the sea
and upon the shore, formed a great mist, which filled the fisherman
with astonishment. When the smoke was all out of the vessel, it
reunited, and became a solid body, of which was formed a genie twice as
high as the greatest of giants. At the sight of such a monster the
fisherman would fain have fled, but was so frightened that he could not
move.

"Solomon," cried the genie immediately, "Solomon, the great prophet,
pardon, pardon; I will never more oppose your will, I will obey all your
commands."

The fisherman, when he heard these words of the genie, recovered his
courage and said to him: "Thou proud spirit, what is it you say? It is
above eighteen hundred years since the prophet Solomon died, and we are
now at the end of time. Tell me your history, and how you came to be
shut up in this vessel."

The genie, turning to the fisherman with a fierce look, said: "Thou must
address me with more courtesy; thou art a presumptuous fellow to call me
a proud spirit; speak to me more respectfully, or I will kill thee."
"Ah!" replied the fisherman, "why should you kill me? Did I not just now
set you at liberty, and have you already forgotten my services?"

"No, I remember it," said the genie, "but that shall not save thy life:
I have only one favour to grant thee." "And what is that?" asked the
fisherman. "It is," answered the genie, "to give thee thy choice in what
manner thou wouldst have me put thee to death." "But wherein have I
offended you?" demanded the fisherman. "Is that your reward for the
service I have rendered you?" "I cannot treat thee otherwise," said the
genie; "and that thou mayest know the reason, hearken to my story."

"I am one of those rebellious spirits that opposed the will of Solomon,
the son of David, and to aveng