ever gives. But we are in the best of humor;
for were we not warned all along against just this foible of
curiosity, and is not the story-teller smiling inscrutably and
advising us to be thankful that we at least still have our two good
eyes?

Beside the story interest, the life and movement of the tales, the
spirits that enter and set their own precedents, there is for us the
charm of mingling with men so different from ourselves: men
adventurous but never strenuous, men of many tribulations but no
perplexities. Fantastic, magnificent, extravagant, beautiful,
gloriously colored, humorous--was ever book of such infinite
contrasts?

* * * * *

THE CONTENTS

THE SULTAN AND HIS VOW

THE STORY OF THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE

THE THREE CALENDERS, SONS OF KINGS, AND THE FIVE LADIES OF BAGDAD

THE STORY OF THE THREE SISTERS

THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP

THE HISTORY OF ALI BABA, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS KILLED BY ONE SLAVE

THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR

[Illustration]

* * * * *

THE ILLUSTRATIONS

_The genie immediately returned with a tray bearing dishes of
the most delicious viands_ Frontispiece

_He had the gift of understanding the language of beasts_

_He was chained to the spot by the pleasure of beholding three such
beauties_

_These ladies vied with each other in their eager solicitude to do me
all possible service_

_The gardener, with the rake which he had in his hand, drew the basket to
the side of the canal_

_He presently discovered a gold box, about a foot square, which he gave
into the princess's hands_

_She drew the poniard, and, holding it in her hand, began a dance_

_Having balanced my cargo exactly, and fastened it well to the raft,
I went on board with the two oars I had made_

[Illustration]

* * * * *

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

THE SULTAN AND HIS VOW

It is written in the chronicles of the Sassanian monarchs that there
once lived an illustrious prince, beloved by his own subjects for his
wisdom and his prudence, and feared by his enemies for his courage and
for the hardy and well-disciplined army of which he was the leader.
This prince had two sons, the elder called Schah-riar, and the younger
Schah-zenan, both equally good and deserving of praise.

When the old king died at the end of a