ES-SINDIBAD OF THE SEA tor

command, O King of the age!” And upon this he
sent immediately and caused the Kadee and the
witnesses to come, and married me forthwith to a
woman of noble rank, of high lineage, possessing
abundant wealth and fortune, of great origin, of
surprising loveliness and beauty, owner of dwellings
and possessions and buildings. Then he gave mea
great, handsome house, standing alone, and he gave
me servants and other dependants, and assigned me
supplies and salaries. Thus I became in a state
of the utmost ease and joy and happiness, forget-
ting all the fatigue and affliction and adversity that
had happened to me; and I said within myself,
“When I set forth on my voyage to my country, —
I will take her with me.” But every event that is
predestined to happen to man must inevitably take
place, and no one knoweth what will befall him.
I loved her and she loved me with a great affection,
concord existed between me and her, and we lived
in a most delightful manner and most comfortable
abode, and ceased not to enjoy this state for a
length of time.

Then God (whose name be exalted!) caused
to die the wife of my neighbour, and he was
a companion of mine. So I went in to him
to console him for the loss of his wife, and
-beheld him in a most evil state, anxious, weary