ught does
not alter my resolution, and I shall not cease importuning you till
I have obtained from you the favor of presenting me to the sultan as
his consort."

[Illustration: _He had the gift of understanding the language of
beasts Page 15_]

The vizier, finding her persistent in her request, said, "Well then,
since you will remain thus obstinate, I shall be obliged to treat you
as the rich merchant I mentioned did his wife."

Being told in what a miserable state the ass was, he was curious to
know what passed between him and the ox. After supper, therefore, he
went out by moonlight, accompanied by his wife, and sat down near
them; on his arrival, he heard the ass say to the ox, "Tell me,
brother, what you mean to do when the laborer brings you food
to-morrow!"

"Mean to do!" replied the ox. "Why, what you taught me, to be sure."

"Take care," interrupted the ass, "what you are about, lest you
destroy yourself; for in coming home yesterday evening, I heard our
master say these sad words: 'Since the ox can neither eat nor support
himself, I wish him to be killed to-morrow; do not, therefore, fail to
send for the butcher.' This is what I heard; and the interest I take
in your safety, and the friendship I have for you, induces me to
mention it. When they bring you beans and chaff, get up, and begin
eating directly. Our master, by this, will suppose that you have
recovered, and will, without doubt, revoke the sentence for your
death; in my opinion, if you act otherwise, it is all over with you."

This speech produced the intended effect; the ox was much troubled,
and lowed with fear. The merchant, who had listened to everything with
great attention, burst into a fit of laughter that quite surprised
his wife.

"Tell me," said she, "what you laugh at, that I may join in it. I wish
to know the cause."

"That satisfaction," replied the husband, "I cannot afford you. I can
only tell you that I laughed at what the ass said to the ox; the rest
is a secret, which I must not reveal."

"And why not?" asked his wife.

"Because, if I tell you, it will cost me my life."

"You trifle with me," added she; "this can never be true; and if you
do not immediately inform me what you laughed at, I swear by Allah
that we will live together no longer."

In saying this, she went back to the house in a pet, shut herself up,
and cried the whole night. Her husband, finding that she continued in
the same state all the next day, said