THE FISHERMAN. 83

and Assaf took and brought me, in spite of myself, before the
throne of the king, his master.

“Solomon commanded me to quit my mode of life, acknow-
ledge his authority, and submit to his laws. I haughtily refused
to obey him, and rather exposed myself to his resentment than
take the oath of fidelity and submission which he required of
me. In order, therefore, to punish me, he enclosed me in this
copper vase; and, to prevent my forcing my way out, he put
upon the leaden cover the impression of his seal. This done,
he gave the vase to one of those Genii who obeyed him, and
ordered him to cast me into the sea; which, to my great sorrow,
was performed directly.

“ During the first period of my captivity, I swore that if any
one delivered me before the first hundred years were passed, I
would make him rich, even after his death. The time elapsed,
and no one assisted me: during the second century, I swore

‘that if any released me, I would discover to him all the trea-
sures of the earth; still 1 was not more fortunate. During the
third, I promised to make my deliverer a most powerful monarch,
to be always hovering near him, and to grant him every day any
three requests he chose. This age too, like the former, passed
away, and I remained in the same situation. Enraged, at last,
to be so long a prisoner, I swore that I would, without mercy, kill
whoever should in future release me, and that the only favour |
would grant him should be, to choose what manner of death he
pleased. Since, therefore, thou hast come here to-day, and hast
delivered me, fix upon whatever kind of death thou wilt.”

The fisherman was much afflicted at this speech. “ How un-
fortunate,” he exclaimed, “am I, to come here and render so
great a service to such an ungrateful object! Consider, I en-
treat you, your injustice, and revoke so unreasonable an oath,”
“ No,” answered the Genius, “thy death is certain ; determine
only how I shall kill thee.” The fisherman was in great distress
at finding him thus resolved on his death, not so much on his
own account as that of his three children, whose wretched state
he greatly deplored when they would be reduced by his death.
He still endeavoured to appease the Genius. “ Alas !” he cried,
“have pity on me, in consideration of what I have done for
thee.” “I have already told thee,” replied the Genius, “ that it
is for that very reason that [ am obliged to take thy life” “It