was left to attend to the shop. After she had looked
over some goods, she chanced to see my china vase, which was in the room.
She took a prodigious fancy to it, and offered me any price if I would
part with it; but this I declined doing, because I believed that I should
draw down upon my head some dreadful calamity if I voluntarily
relinquished the talisman. Irritated by my refusal, the lady, according
to the custom of her sex, became more resolute in her purpose; but
neither entreaties nor money could change my determination. Provoked
beyond measure at my obstinacy, as she called it, she left the house.

"On my brother's return, I related to him what had happened, and expected
that he would have praised me for my prudence; but, on the contrary, he
blamed me for the superstitious value I set upon the verses on my vase;
and observed that it would be the height of folly to lose a certain means
of advancing my fortune for the uncertain hope of magical protection. I
could not bring myself to be of his opinion; I had not the courage to
follow the advice he gave. The next day the lady returned, and my
brother sold his vase to her for ten thousand pieces of gold. This money
he laid out in the most advantageous manner, by purchasing a new stock of
merchandise. I repented when it was too late; but I believe it is part
of the fatality attending certain persons, that they cannot decide
rightly at the proper moment. When the opportunity has been lost, I have
always regretted that I did not do exactly the contrary to what I had
previously determined upon. Often, whilst I was hesitating, the
favourable moment passed. {1} Now this is what I call being unlucky. But
to proceed with my story.

"The lady who bought my brother Saladin's vase was the favourite of the
Sultan, and all-powerful in the seraglio. Her dislike to me, in
consequence of my opposition to her wishes, was so violent, that she
refused to return to my brother's house while I remained there. He was
unwilling to part with me; but I could not bear to be the ruin of so good
a brother. Without telling him my design, I left his house careless of
what should become of me. Hunger, however, soon compelled me to think of
some immediate mode of obtaining relief. I sat down upon a stone, before
the door of a baker's shop: the smell of hot bread tempted me in, and
with a feeble voice I demanded charity.

"The master baker gave me as much bread as I could eat, upon c