was wont to make use of this book, of which we had some small matter by heart, and each of us desired to possess it, that he might acquaint himself with what was therein.  Now when we fell out there was in our company an old man by name Cohen Al-Abtan,[FN#269] who had reared our sire and taught him divination and gramarye, and he said to us, ‘Bring me the book.’  So we gave it him and he continued, ’Ye are my son’s sons, and it may not be that I should wrong any of you.  So whoso is minded to have the volume, let him address himself to achieve the treasure of Al-Shamardal[FN#270] and bring me the celestial planisphere and the Kohl phial and the seal ring and the sword.  For the ring hath a Marid that serveth it called Al-Ra’ad al-Kasif;[FN#271] and whoso hath possession thereof, neither King nor Sultan may prevail against him; and if he will, he may therewith make himself master of the earth, in all the length and breadth thereof.  As for the brand, if its bearer draw it and brandish it against an army, the army will be put to the rout; and if he say the while, ‘Slay yonder host,’ there will come forth of that sword lightning and fire, that will kill the whole many.  As for the planisphere, its possessor hath only to turn its face toward any country, east or west, with whose sight he hath a mind to solace himself, and therein he will see that country and its people, as they were between his hands and he sitting in his place; and if he be wroth with a city and have a mind to burn it, he hath but to face the planisphere towards the sun’s disc, saying, ‘Let such a city be burnt,’ and that city will be consumed with fire.  As for the Kohl phial, whoso pencilleth his eyes therefrom, he shall espy all the treasures of the earth.  And I make this condition with you which is that whoso faileth to hit upon the hoards shall forfeit his right; and that none save he who shall achieve the treasure and bring me the four precious things which be therein shall have any claim to take this book.’  So we all agreed to this condition, and he continued, ’O my sons, know that the treasure of Al-Shamardal is under the commandment of the sons of the Red King, and your father told me that he had himself essayed to open the treasure, but could not; for the sons of the Red King fled from him into the land of Egypt and took refuge in a lake there, called Lake Karun, whither he pursued them, but could not prevail over them, by reason of their stealing into that lake, which was guarded by a spell.’ “—­And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

        When it was the Six Hundred and Eleventh Night,