The fisherman then said to him, “I wish to 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.”  “In good faith,” answered the fisherman, “I cannot believe you; the vessel is not capable of holding one of your size, and how should it be possible that your whole body should lie 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 cost not believe me after the solemn oath I have taken?” “Truly not I,” said the fisherman; “nor will I believe you, unless you go into the vessel again.”

Upon which the body of the genie dissolved and changed itself into smoke, extending as before upon the sea shore; and at last, being collected, it began to re-enter the vessel, which it continued to do by a slow and equal motion, till no part remained out; when immediately a voice came forth, which said to the fisherman, “Well now, incredulous fellow, I am in the vessel, do not you believe me now?”

The fisherman, instead of answering the genie, took the cover of lead, and having speedily replaced it on the vessel, “Genie,” cried he, “now it is your turn to beg my favour, and to choose which way I shall put you 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 shore, where I will reside and 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 that shall set thee at liberty.”

The genie, enraged at these expressions, struggled to set himself at liberty; but it was impossible, for the impression of Solomon’s seal prevented him.  Perceiving that the fisherman had got the advantage of him, for he thought fit to dissemble his anger; “Fishermen,” said he, “take heed you do not what you threaten; for what I spoke to you was only by way of jest.”  “O genie!” replied 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 the sea thou shalt return.  If thou hast been there already so long as thou hast told me, thou may’st very well stay there till the day of judgment.  I begged of thee in God’s name not to take away my life, and thou didst reject my prayers; I am obliged to treat thee in the same manner.”

The genie omitted nothing that he thought likely to prevail with the fisherman:  “Open the vessel,” said he, “give me my liberty, and I promise to satisfy thee to thy own content.”  “Thou art a traitor,” replied the fisherman, “I should deserve to lose my life, if I were 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.”