The genie (continued she) having promised to speak the truth, the fisherman says to him, I would know if you were actually in this vessel?  Dare you swear it by the name of the great God?  Yes, replied the genie, I do swear by that great name that I was, and it is a certain truth.  In good faith, answered the fisherman, I cannot believe you; the vessel is not capable to hold one of your feet, and how should it be possible that your whole body could be in it?  I swear to thee notwithstanding, replied the genie, that I was there just as you see me here:  Is it possible that thou dost not believe me after the great oath which I have taken?  Truly, not I, said the fisherman; nor will I believe you unless you show it me.

Upon which the body of the genie was dissolved, and changed itself into smoke, extending itself, as formerly, upon the sea-shore; and then at last, being gathered together, it began to reenter the vessel, which he continued to do successively, by a slow and equal motion, after a smooth and exact way, till nothing was left out, and immediately a voice came forth, which said to the fisherman, Well, now, incredulous fellow, I am all in the vessel, do not you believe me now?

The fisherman, instead of answering the genie, took the cover of lead, and having speedily shut the vessel, Genie, cries he, now it is your turn to beg my favour, and to choose which way I shall put thee to death; but not so, it is better that I should throw you into the sea, whence I took you; and then I will build a house upon the bank, where I will dwell, to give notice to all fishermen, who come to throw in their nets, to beware of such a wicked genie as thou art, who hast made an oath to kill him who shall set thee at liberty.

The genie, enraged at these expressions, did all he could to get out of the vessel again, but it was not possible for him to do it; for the impression of Solomon’s seal prevented him; so, perceiving that the fisherman had got the advantage of him, he thought fit to dissemble his anger.  Fisherman, says he, in a pleasant tone, take heed you do not what you say; for what I spoke before was only by way of jest, and you are to take it no otherwise.  O genie! replies the fisherman, thou who wast but a moment ago the greatest of all genies, and now art the least of them, thy crafty discourse will signify nothing to thee, but to the sea thou shalt return:  If thou hadst staid in the sea so long as thou hast told me, thou mayst very well stay there till the day of judgment.  I begged thee, in God’s name, not to take away my life, and thou didst reject my prayers; I am obliged to treat you in the same manner.

The genie omitted nothing that could prevail upon the fisherman:  Open the vessel, says he, give me my liberty, I pray thee, and I promise to satisfy thee to thy own content.  Thou art a mere traitor, replies the fisherman, I should deserve to lose my life, if I be such a fool as to trust thee; thou wilt not fail to treat me in the same manner as a certain Grecian king treated the physician Douban.  It is a story I have a mind to tell thee, therefore listen to it.