the
Koran, betrayed Adam to transgression, and yet seeks to inflict injury
on his race.]

After the genie had put these questions to me he gave me no time to
answer. He grasped me by the middle, dragged me out of the chamber,
and mounting into the air carried me up to the skies with
extraordinary swiftness. He descended again in like manner to the
earth, which on a sudden he caused to open with a stroke of his foot,
when I found myself in the enchanted palace, before the fair princess
of the Isle of Ebony. But, alas! what a spectacle was there! I saw
what pierced me to the heart; this poor princess was weltering in her
blood, and lay upon the ground, more like one dead than alive, with
her cheeks bathed in tears.

The genie, having loaded us both with many insults and reproaches,
drew his scimitar and declared that he would give life and liberty to
either of us who would with his scimitar cut off the head of the
other. We both resolutely declined to purchase freedom at such a
price, and asserted our choice to be to die rather in the presence of
each other.

"I see," said the genie, "that you both outbrave me, but both of you
shall know by my treatment of you of what I am capable."

At these words the monster took up the scimitar and cut off one of her
hands, which left her only so much life as to give me a token with the
other that she bade me forever adieu; and then she died.

I fainted at the sight.

When I was come to myself again, I cried, "Strike, for I am ready to
die, and await death as the greatest favor you can show me."

But instead of killing me, he said, "Behold how genies revenge
themselves on those who offend them. Thou art the least to blame, and
I will content myself with transforming thee into a dog, ape, lion, or
bird; take thy choice of any of these. I will leave it to thyself."

These words gave me some hopes of being able to appease him.

"O genie," said I, "restrain your rage, and since you will not take
away my life, pardon me freely, as a good dervish pardoned one who
envied him."

"And how was that?" said he.

I answered as follows:

THE HISTORY OF THE ENVIOUS MAN AND OF HIM WHO WAS ENVIED

In a certain town there were two men, neighbors, who lived next door
to each other. One of them was so excessively envious of the other
that the latter resolved to change his abode and go and reside at some
distance from him. He therefore sold his house, and went to another
city at no gre