“By the Compassionate, I’m dazed about my case for lo! *
     Troubles and griefs beset me sore; I know not whence they
     grow. 
I will be patient, so the folk, that I against a thing *
     Bitt’rer than very aloes’ self,[FN#400] endured have, may
     know. 
Less bitter than my patience is the taste of aloes-juice; *
     I’ve borne with patience what’s more hot than coals with
     fire aglow. 
In this my trouble what resource have I, save to commit * My
     case to Him who orders all that is, for weal or woe?”

Then he became drowned in the depth of thoughts and his tears ran down upon his cheeks like torrent-rain; and he slept a while of the day, after which he awoke and sought of food somewhat.  So they set meat before him and he ate his sufficiency, till they removed the food from before him, whilst the boat drove on with them they knew not whither it was wandering.  It drifted with them at the will of the winds and the waves, night and day a great while, till their victual was spent and they saw themselves shent and were reduced to extreme hunger and thirst and exhaustion, when behold, suddenly they sighted an island from afar and the breezes wafted them on, till they came thither.  Then, making the cock-boat fast to the coast and leaving one therein to guard it, they fared on into the island, where they found abundance of fruits of all colours and ate of them till they were satisfied.  Presently, they saw a person sitting among those trees and he was long-faced, of strange favour and white of beard and body.  He called to one of the Mamelukes by his name, saying, “Eat not of these fruits, for they are unripe; but come hither to me, that I may give thee to eat of the best and the ripest.”  The slave looked at him and thought that he was one of the shipwrecked, who had made his way to that island; so he joyed with exceeding joy at sight of him and went close up to him, knowing not what was decreed to him in the Secret Purpose nor what was writ upon his brow.  But, when he drew near, the stranger in human shape leapt upon him, for he was a Marid,[FN#401] and riding upon his shoulderblades and twisting one of his legs about his neck, let the other hang down upon his back, saying, “Walk on, fellow; for there is no escape for thee from me and thou art become mine ass.”  Thereupon the Mameluke fell a-weeping and cried out to his comrades, “Alas, my lord!  Flee ye forth of this wood and save yourselves, for one of the dwellers therein hath mounted on my shoulders, and the rest seek you, desiring to ride you like me."When they heard these words, all fled down to the boat and pushed off to sea; whilst the islanders followed them into the water, saying, “Whither wend ye?  Come, tarry with us and we will mount on your backs and give you meat and drink, and you shall be our donkeys.”  Hearing this they hastened the more seawards till they left them in the distance and fared on, trusting in Allah Almighty; nor did