ES-SINDIBAD OF THE SEA 39

me, neither any of the merchants nor any of the
sailors: so they left me in the island.

I looked about it to the right and left, and
found not in it any one save myself. I was
therefore affected with violent vexation, not to
be exceeded, and my gall-bladder almost burst
by reason of the severity of my grief and mourn-
ing and fatigue. I had not with me aught of
worldly goods, neither food nor drink, and I had
become desolate, weary in my soul, and despairing
of life; and I said, ‘“‘ Not every time doth the jar
escape unbroken; and if I escaped the first time,
and found him who took me with him from the
shore of the island to the inhabited part, far, far
from me this time is the prospect of my finding
him who will convey me to inhabited lands!”
Then I began to weep and wail for myself until
vexation overpowered me; and I blamed myself
for that which IT had done, and for my having
undertaken this voyage and fatigue after I had
been reposing at ease in my abode and my county,
in ample happiness, and enjoying good food and
good drink and good apparel, and had not been
in want of anything, either of money or goods
or merchandise. I repented of my having gone
forth from the city of Baghdad, and set out on
a voyage over the sea, after the fatigue that I