When Mazin heard the above he was surprised, and said to himself, “These articles arc so paltry and of such trifling value as not to be worth an arbitration; for surely this shabby cap, the drum, and the wooden ball, cannot be worth altogether more than half a deenar; but I will inquire farther about them.”  He then said, “My brethren, wherein lies the value of these three things about which you were contending, for to me they appear of very little worth.”  They replied, “Dear uncle, each of them has a property worth treasuries of wealth, and to each of them belongs a tale so wonderful, that wert thou to write it on a tablet of adamant it would remain an example for those who will be admonished.”

Mazin then requested that they would relate to him the stories of the three articles, when they said, “The eldest brother shall first deliver the account of one, its properties, what can be gained from them, and we will not conceal any thing from thee.”

“This cap,” said the elder brother, “is called the cap of invisibility, by which, whoever possesseth it may become sovereign of the world.  When he puts it on, he may enter where he pleases, for none can perceive him, either genii or men, so that he may convey away whatever he chooses, unseen, in security.  He may enter the cabinets of kings and statesmen, and hear all they converse upon respecting political intrigues.  Does he covet wealth, he may visit the royal treasuries, and plunder them at his pleasure; or does he wish for revenge, he can kill his enemy without being detected.  In short, he may act as he pleases without fear of discovery.’

Mazin now said to himself, “This cap can become nobody but me, to whom it will be most advantageous in the object of my expedition.  Perhaps it may conduct me to my wife and children, and I may obtain from its possession all I wish.  It is certainly one of the wonders of the world and rarities of the age, not to be found among the riches of kings of the present day.”  When he had ruminated thus, he said, “I am acquainted with the properties of the cap, what are those of the drum?”

The second brother began, saying, “Whoever has this drum in his possession, should he be involved in a difficult situation, let him take it out of its case, and with the sticks gently beat upon the characters engraven on the copper; when, if his mind be collected and his courage firm, there will appear to him wonderful matters.  The vurtue of it consists in the words inscribed upon it, which were written by our lord Solomon Bin David in talismanic characters, each of which has control over certain spirits and princes of the genii, and a power that cannot be described in speech.  Hence, whoever is master of this drum may become superior to all the monarchs of the present day, for, on his beating it in the manner alreadv described, when he is pressed for help, all the princes of the genii, with their sons, will appear also their troops and followers, ready to obey his commands.  Whatever he may order them to execute they will perform by virtue of the talisman of our lord Solomon Bin David.”