3590 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

dress these fish, this we must accomplish.” ‘They all three went
into the kitchen and set to work, and the fish were soon ready.
The caliph carried up the dish, and placed it before them.
They ate with much appetite, particularly Noureddin and the
Beautiful Persian, and the caliph remained standing before them.

When they had finished, Noureddin looked up at the caliph.
“Fisherman,” said he, “it is impossible to eat better fish ; you
have done us the greatest favour in the world.” At the same
time, putting his hand into his bosom, and drawing out his
purse, he offered it to the supposed fisherman. The caliph took
the purse, and thanked Noureddin. “Sir,” said he, “I am par-
ticularly fortunate to have dealings with such noble gentlemen
as you; but before I go away, I have one request to make. I
see a lute there, from which I conclude that the lady plays. If
she would favour me with a single tune, I should return home
the most contented creature in the world.”

The Beautiful Persian took the lute, and sang and played an
air that charmed the caliph. When this was finished, she con-
tinued to play without singing, and performed with so much
taste and expression, that he was delighted to ecstasy.

After a time Noureddin became so pleased with the pretended
fisherman that he recounted to him his whole history, beginning
with the purchase of the Beautiful Persian, made by the vizier,
his father, for the king of Balsora, and omitting nothing of what
he had done or suffered, from that time to his arrival at Bagdad,
and even to the very moment he was speaking.

Noureddin had no sooner finished, than the caliph said to
him, “ Where do you intend to go now? If you will trust to
me, you will go no farther: but return to Balsora. I will write
you a short note, which you shall give the king from me.”

“ Kerim,” replied Noureddin, “what you say to me is very
extraordinary : who ever heard of a fisherman like you, corres-
ponding with a king?”

“Never mind,” said the caliph, “ present the note as I direct
you ;” and as there was everything in the saloon necessary for
writing, the caliph wrote the following letter to the king of Bal-
sora.

“° The Caliph Haroun Alraschid to the King of Balsora.
“ Haroun Alraschid, son of Mahdi, sends thi¢ letter to Maho-