The fisherman being resolved to follow the genie’s advice, forbore casting in his nets a second time; and returned to the town very well satisfied; and making a thousand reflections upon his adventure.  He went immediately to the sultan’s palace, to offer his fish.

The sultan was much surprised, when he saw the four fish which the fisherman presented.  He took them up one after another, and viewed them with attention; and after having admired them a long time, “Take those fish,” said he to his vizier, “and carry them to the cook, whom the emperor of the Greeks has sent me.  I cannot imagine but that they must be as good as they are beautiful.”

The vizier, carried them as he was directed, and delivering them to the cook, said, “Here are four fish just brought to the sultan; he orders you to dress them:”  he then returned to the sultan his master, who ordered him to give the fisherman four hundred pieces of gold of the coin of that country, which he did accordingly.

The fisherman, who had never seen so much money, could scarcely believe his good fortune, but thought the whole must be a dream, until he found it otherwise, by being able to provide necessaries for his family with the produce of his fish.

As soon as the sultan’s cook had gutted the fish, she put them upon the fire in a frying-pan, with oil, and when she thought them fried enough on one side, she turned them upon the other; but, O monstrous prodigy! scarcely were they turned, when the wall of the kitchen divided, and a young lady of wonderful beauty entered from the opening.  She was clad in flowered satin, after the Egyptian manner, with pendants in her ears, a necklace of large pearls, and bracelets of gold set with rubies, with a rod in her hand.  She moved towards the frying-pan, to the great amazement of the cook, who continued fixed by the sight, and striking one of the fish with the end of the rod, said, “Fish, fish, are you in duty?” The fish having answered nothing, she repeated these words, and then the four fish lifted up their heads, and replied, “Yes, yes:  if you reckon, we reckon; if you pay your debts, we pay ours; if you fly, we overcome, and are content.”  As soon as they had finished these words, the lady overturned the frying-pan, and returned into the open part of the wall, which closed immediately, and became as it was before.

The cook was greatly frightened at what had happened, and coming a little to herself, went to take up the fish that had fallen on the hearth, but found them blacker than coal, and not fit to be carried to the sultan.  This grievously troubled her, and she fell to weeping most bitterly.  “Alas!” said she, “what will become of me?  If I tell the sultan what I have seen, I am sure he will not believe me, but will be enraged against me.”