THE THIRD VOYAGE OF ES-SINDIBAD OF THE SEA. =7| NOW, O my brothers (and hear from i; me the story of the third voyage, 4| for it is more wonderful than the | preceding stories, hitherto related + and God is all-knowing with re- spect to the things which He hideth, and omnis- cient), that, in the times past, when I returned from the second voyage, and was in a state of the utmost joy and happiness, rejoicing in my safety, having gained great wealth, as I related to you yesterday, God having compensated me for all that I had lost, I resided in the city of Baghdad for a length of time in the most perfect prosperity and delight, and joy and happiness. Then my soul became desirous of travel and diversion, and I longed for commerce and gain and profits; the soul being prone to evil. So I meditated, and bought an abundance of goods suited for a sea-voyage, and packed them up, 57