THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF

ES-SINDIBAD OF THE SEA.

HEN I relinquished voyaging, and
the affairs of commerce, I said
within myself, “What hath hap-
4} pened to me sufficeth me.” And
~ my time was spent in joy and
pleasures. But while I was sitting one day, the .
door was knocked: so the door-keeper opened,
and a page of the Khaleefeh entered and said,
“The Khaleefeh summoneth thee.” I therefore
went with him to his majesty, and kissed the
ground before him and saluted him, whereupon
he welcomed me and treated me with honour;
and he said to me, “O Sindibad, I have an
affair for thee to perform. Wilt thou do it?”
So I kissed his hand, and said to him, “O my
lord, what affair hath the master for the slave
to perform?” And he answered me, “I desire
that thou go to the King of Sarandeeb, and

convey to him our letter and our present; for
167