He went away, and was absent a whole year.  At the expiration of this time, a poor man, who I thought had come to ask alms, presented himself before me in my shop.  I said to him, “God help you.”  He returned my salutation, and continued, “Is it possible you do not know me?” Upon this I looked at him narrowly, and recognised him:  “Ah, brother,” cried I, embracing him, “how could I know you in this condition?” I made him come into my house, and asked him concerning his health and the success of his travels.  “Do not ask me that question,” said he; “when you see me, you see all:  it would only renew my grief, to relate to you the particulars of the misfortunes I have experienced since I left you, which have reduced me to my present condition.”

I immediately shut up my shop, and taking him to a bath, gave him the best clothes I had.  Finding on examining my books, that I had doubled my stock, that is to say, that I was worth two thousand sequins, I gave him one half; “With that,” said I, “brother, you may make up your loss.”  He joyfully accepted the present, and having repaired his fortunes, we lived together, as before.

Some time after, my second brother, who is the other of these two dogs, would also sell his estate.  His elder brother and myself did all we could to divert him from his purpose, but without effect.  He disposed of it, and with the money bought such goods as were suitable to the trade which he designed to follow.  He joined a caravan, and departed.  At the end of the year he returned in the same condition as my other brother.  Having myself by this time gained another thousand sequins, I made him a present of them.  With this sum he furnished his shop, and continued his trade.

Some time after, one of my brothers came to me to propose that I should join them in a trading voyage; I immediately declined.  “You have travelled,” said I, “and what have you gained by it?  Who can assure me, that I shall be more successful than you have been?” It was in vain that they urged open me all the considerations they thought likely to gain me over to their design, for I constantly refused; but after having resisted their solicitations five whole years, they importuned me so much, that at last they overcame my resolution.  When, however, the time arrived that we were to make preparations for our voyage, to buy the goods necessary to the undertaking, I found they had spent all, and had not one dirrim left of the thousand sequins I had given to each of them.  I did not, on this account, upbraid them.  On the contrary, my stock being still six thousand sequins, I shared the half of it with them, telling them, “My brothers, we must venture these three thousand sequins, and hide the rest in some secure place:  that in case our voyage be not more successful than yours was formerly, we may have wherewith to assist us, and to enable us to follow our ancient way of living.”  I gave each of them a thousand sequins, and keeping as much for myself, I buried the other three thousand in a corner of my house.  We purchased goods, and having embarked them on board a vessel, which we freighted betwixt us, we put to sea with a favourable wind.