“Where is the box?” asked the taleb.

“I did not find it.”

“By the Lord, let us go.”  He took him to the mountains, cast a stone at him, and went away.  He lay on the ground for three days.  Then he came to himself, went back to his own country, and rented a house.  He opened the box, found inside a silk napkin, which he opened, and in which he found seven folds.  He unfolded one.  Genii came around the chamber, and a young girl danced until the day dawned.  The man stayed there all that day until night.  The King came out that night, and, hearing the noise of the dance, he knocked at the door, with his vezir.  They received him with a red h’aik. He amused himself until the day dawned.  Then he went home with his vezir.  The latter sent for the man and said, “Give me the box which you have at home.”  He brought it to the King, who said to him:  “Give me the box which you have so that I may amuse myself with it, and I will marry you to my daughter.”  The man obeyed and married the Sultan’s daughter.  The Sultan amused himself with the box, and after his death his son-in-law succeeded him.

* * * * *

THE CHILD AND THE KING OF THE GENII

There was a sheik who gave instruction to two talebs.  One day they brought to one of them a dish of couscous with meat.  The genius stole him and bore him away.  When they had arrived down there he taught him.  One day the child was crying.  The King of the genii asked him, “Why do you cry?”

“I am crying for my father and my mother.  I don’t want to stay here any longer.”

The King asked his sons, “Who will take him back?”

“I,” said one of them; “but how shall I take him back?”

“Carry him back after you have stuffed his ears with wool so that he shall not hear the angels worshipping the Lord.”

They had arrived at a certain place, the child heard the angels worshipping the Lord, and did as they did.  His guide released him and he remained three days without awaking.  When he came to himself, he took up his journey and found a mother-dog which slept while her little ones barked, although yet unborn.  He proceeded and met next an ass attacked by a swarm of flies.  Further on he saw two trees, on one perched a blue bird.  Afterward it flew upon the other tree and began to sing.  He found next a fountain of which the bottom was of silver, the vault of gold and the waters white.  He went on and met a man who had been standing for three days without saying a word.  Finally he arrived at a village protected by God, but which no one entered.  He met a wise man and said to him: 

“I want to ask you some questions.”

“What do you wish to ask me?”

“I found a mother-dog which was asleep while her little ones were barking, although yet unborn.”

The sage answered, “It is the good of the world that the old man should keep silence because he is ashamed to speak.”