18 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

ten for one. We then purchased the produce of that country,
in order to traffic with it in our own.

About the time that we were ready to embark on our return
I accidentally met on the sea-shore a female, of a very fine figure,
but poorly dressed. She accosted me by kissing my hand, and
entreated me most earnestly to permit her to go with me, and
take her for my wife. I started many difficulties to sucha plan;
but at length she said so much to persuade me that I ought not
to regard her poverty, and that I should be well satisfied with
her conduct, I was quite overcome. I directly procured proper
dresses for her, and after marrying her in due form, she em-
barked with me, and we set sail.

During our voyage, I found my wife possessed of so many
good qualities, that I loved her every day more and more. In
the meantime, my two brothers, who had not traded so advan-
tageously as myself, and who were jealous of my prosperity,
began to feel exceedingly envious. They even went so far as to
conspire against my life; for one night, while my wife and J
were asleep, they threw us into the sea.

My wife proved to be a fairy, consequently possessed of super-
natural power; you may therefore imagine she was not hurt.
As for myself, I should certainly have perished without her aid.
I had hardly, however, fallen into the water before she took me
up, and transported me into anisland. As soon as it was day,
the fairy thus addressed me :—“ You may observe, my husband,
that in saving your life, ] have not ill rewarded the good you
have done me. You must know that I am a fairy, and being
upon the shore when you were about to sail, I felt a great in-
clination for you. 1 wished to try the goodness of your heart,
and for this purpose I presented myself before you in the dis-
guise you saw. You acted most generously, and I am there-
fore delighted in finding an occasion of shewing my gratitude :
but I am enraged against your brothers, nor shall I] be satisfied
till I have taken their lives.”

1 listened with astonishment to the discourse of the fairy, and
thanked her, as well as 1 was able, for the great obligation she
had conferred on me. “But, madam,” said I to her, “1 must
entreat you to pardon my brothers ; for although I have the
greatest reason to complain of their conduct, yet I am not so
cruel as to wish their destruction.” I related to her what I had