[6] Mr. C.J.R. le Mesurier in The Orientalist (Kandy, Ceylon:  1884), pp. 233-4.

[7] The Orientalist, 1884, p. 234.  A much fuller version, with subsequent incidents, is given in the same excellent periodical, pp. 36-38.

[8] Archie Armstrong was Court jester to James I. of England.  It is needless, perhaps, to say that he had no hand in this book of facetiae, which is composed for the most part of jests taken out of earlier collections.

CHAPTER IV.

GOTHAMITE DROLLERIES (continued).

Tales of sharpers’ tricks upon simpletons do not quite fall within the scope of the present series of papers, but there is one, in the Arabian Nights—­not found, however, in our common English version of that fascinating story-book—­which deserves a place among noodle-stories, since it is so diverting, is not very generally known, and is probably the original of the early Italian novel of the Monk Transformed, which is ascribed to Michele Colombo: 

A rustic simpleton was walking homeward dragging his ass after him by the halter, which a brace of sharpers observing, one said to his fellow, “Come with me, and I will take the ass from that man.”  He then quietly advanced to the ass, unloosed it from the halter, and gave the animal to his companion, who went off with it, after which he put the halter over his own head, and allowed the rustic to drag him for some little distance, until he with the ass was fairly out of sight, when he suddenly stopped, and the man having tugged at the halter several times without effect, looked round, and, amazed to see a human being in place of his beast, exclaimed, “Who art thou?” The sharper answered, “I was thy ass; but hear my story, for it is wonderful.  I had a good and pious mother, and one day I came home intoxicated.  Grieved to see me in such a state, she gently reproved me, but I, instead of being penetrated with remorse, beat her with a stick, whereupon she prayed to Allah, and, in answer to her supplication, lo!  I was transformed into an ass.  In that shape I have continued until this day, when my mother, as it appears, has interceded for my restoration to human form, as before.”  The simpleton, believing every word of this strange story, raised his eyes to heaven, saying, “Of a truth there is no power but from Allah!  But, pray, forgive me for having used thee as I have done.”  The sharper readily granted his forgiveness, and went off to rejoin his companion and dispose of the ass; while the simpleton returned home, and showing his wife the bridle, told her of the marvellous transformation which had occurred.  His wife, in hopes of propitiating Heaven, gave alms and offered up many prayers to avert evil from them, on account of their having used a human being as an ass.  At length the simpleton, having remained idle at home for some time, went one day to the market to purchase another ass, and on entering the place where all the animals were fastened, he saw with astonishment his old ass offered for sale.  Putting his mouth to its ear, he whispered, “Woe to thee, unlucky!  Doubtless thou hast again been intoxicated; but, by Allah, I will never buy thee!”