, your eldest son, who by stratagem brought this lady to
his house, where he married her. As to the blows he caused to be given
her, he is in some measure excusable; for this lady, his spouse, by
the excuses she made, led him to believe she was more in fault than
she really was."

At these words she saluted the caliph, and vanished.

The caliph, much satisfied with the changes that had happened through
his means, acted in such a manner as will perpetuate his memory to all
ages. First, he sent for his son Amin, and told him that he was
informed of his secret marriage and how he had ill-treated Amina upon
a very slight cause. Upon this, the prince, upon his father's
commands, received her again immediately.

After which Haroun al Raschid declared that he would give his own
heart and hand to Zobeide, and offered the other three sisters to the
calenders, sons of sultans, who accepted them for their brides with
much joy. The caliph assigned each of them a magnificent palace in the
city of Bagdad, promoted them to the highest dignities of his empire,
and admitted them to his councils.

The chief cadi of Bagdad being called, with witnesses, he wrote the
contracts of marriage; and the caliph, in promoting by his patronage
the happiness of many persons who had suffered such incredible
calamities, drew a thousand blessings upon himself.

STORY OF THE THREE SISTERS

There was an emperor of Persia, named Khoonoo-shah. He often walked in
disguise through the city, attended by a trusty minister, when he met
with many adventures. On one of these occasions, as he was passing
through a street in that part of the town inhabited only by the meaner
sort, he heard some people talking very loud; and going close to the
house whence the noise proceeded, he perceived a light, and three
sisters sitting on a sofa, conversing together after supper. By what
the eldest said, he presently understood the subject of their
conversation was wishes: "For," said she, "since we have got upon
wishes, mine shall be to have the sultan's baker for my husband, for
then I shall eat my fill of that bread which by way of excellence is
called the sultan's. Let us see if your tastes are as good as mine."

"For my part," replied the second sister, "I wish I was wife to the
sultan's chief cook, for then I should eat of the most excellent
dishes; and, as I believe the sultan's bread is common in the palace,
I should not want any of that. Therefore, you see," a