row in their
nets, to beware of such a wicked genie as you are, who have made an oath
to kill him that shall set you at liberty."

The genie, enraged at these expressions, struggled to free himself; but
it was impossible, for the impression of Solomon's seal prevented him.
Perceiving that the fisherman had the advantage of him, he thought fit
to dissemble his anger; "Fisherman," said he, "take heed you do not what
you threaten; for what I spoke to you was only by way of jest." "O
genie!" replied the fisherman, "thou who wast but a moment ago the
greatest of all genies, and now art the least of them, thy crafty
discourse will signify nothing, to the sea thou shalt return. If thou
hast been there already so long as thou hast told me, thou mayest very
well stay there till the day of judgment. I begged of thee, in God's
name, not to take away my life, and thou didst reject my prayers; I am
obliged to treat thee in the same manner."

The genie omitted nothing that he thought likely to prevail with the
fisherman: "Open the vessel," said he, "give me my liberty, and I
promise to satisfy you to your own content." "Thou art a traitor,"
replied the fisherman, "I should deserve to lose my life, if I were such
a fool as to trust thee."

"My good fisherman," replied the genie, "I conjure you once more not to
be guilty of such cruelty; consider that it is not good to avenge one's
self, and that, on the other hand, it is commendable to do good for
evil; do not treat me as Imama formerly treated Ateca." "And what did
Imama to Ateca?" inquired the fisherman. "Ho!" cried the genie, "if you
have a mind to be informed, open the vessel: do you think that I can be
in a humour to relate stories in so strait a prison? I will tell you as
many as you please, when you have let me out." "No," said the fisherman,
"I will not let thee out; it is in vain to talk of it; I am just going
to throw thee into the bottom of the sea." "Hear me one word more,"
cried the genie; "I promise to do you no hurt; nay, far from that, I
will show you a way to become exceedingly rich."

The hope of delivering himself from poverty prevailed with the
fisherman. "I could listen to thee," said he, "were there any credit to
be given to thy word; swear to me, by the great name of God, that thou
wilt faithfully perform what thou promisest, and I will open the vessel;
I do not believe thou wilt dare to break such an oath."

The genie swore to him, upon which the fisherman