'O my lord，'replied the fisherman'they torment thee just nowbut before a week has passedthou wilt not feel them nor think of them.'The Khalif laughed and said'Out on thee！Dost thou think I mean to leave this gown on my body？'O my lord，'said the fisherman，'I desire to say one word to thee.'Say on，'answered the Khalif. 'It occurs to meO Commander of the Faithful，'said the fisherman'that if thou wish to learn huntingso thou mayst have an useful trade ready to thy handthis gown will be the very thing for thee.'The Khalif laughedand the fisherman went his way. Then the Khalif took up the basket of fishand laying a little grass over itcarried it to Jaafer and stood before him.
Jaaferconcluding that it was Kerim the fishermanwas alarmed for him and said'O Kerimwhat brings thee hither？ Flee for thy lifefor the Khalif is in the garden to-nightand if he see theethou wilt lose thy head.'At this the Khalif laughedand Jaafer knew him and said'Surely thou art our lord the Khalif？'
'YesO Jaafer，'replied he. 'And thou art my Vizier and I came hither with thee；yet thou knewest me not；so how should Gaffer Ibrahim know meand he drunk？ Stay heretill I come back.'I hear and obey，'answered Jaafer. Then the Khalif went up to the door of the pavilion and knocked softlywhereupon said Noureddin'O Gaffer Ibrahimsome one knocks at the door.'Who is at the door？'cried the old man；and the Khalif replied'It is IO Gaffer Ibrahim！'Who art thou？'asked the gardener. 'I，Kerim the fisherman，'rejoined the Khalif. 'I hear thou hast companyso have brought thee some fine fish.'When Noureddin heard the mention of fishhe was gladhe and the damseland they both said to Ibrahim'O my lordopen the door and let him bring the fish in to us.'So he opened the doorand the Khalif enteredin his fisherman's disguiseand began by saluting them.
Quoth Ibrahim'Welcome to the brigandthe robberthe gambler！
Let us see thy fish.'So the Khalif showed them the fish and beholdthey were still alive and movingwhereupon the damsel exclaimed'O my lordthese are indeed fine fish！Would that they were fried！'By AllahO my mistress，'replied Ibrahim，'thou art right.'Then said he to the Khalif'O fishermanwhy didst thou not bring us the fish ready fried？ Go now and fry them and bring them to us.'It shall be done at once，'answered he.
Said they'Be quick about it.'So he went outrunningand coming up to Jaafercried out'HalloJaafer！'Here am IO Commander of the Faithful！'replied he. 'They want the fish fried，'said the Khalif. 'O Commander of the Faithful，'answered Jaafer'give it to me and I will fry it for them.'By the tombs of my forefathers，'said the Khalif'none shall fry it but I，with my own hand！'So he repaired to the keeper's hutwhere he searched and found all that he requiredeven to salt and saffron and marjoram and so forth. Then he laid the fish on the frying-pan and setting it on the brazierfried them handsomely.
When they were donehe laid them on a banana-leafand gathering some lemons from the gardencarried the dish to the pavilion and set it before them. So Noureddin and the damsel and Ibrahim came forward and ateafter which they washed their hands and Noureddin said to the Khalif'O fishermanthou hast done us a right welcome service this night！'Then he put his hand to his pouch and taking out three of the dinars that Senjer had given himsaid'O fishermanexcuse me. By Allahhad I known thee before that which has lately befallen meI had done away the bitterness of poverty from thy heart；but take this as an earnest of my good will！'Then he threw the dinars to the Khalifwho took them and kissed them and put them up. Now the Khalif's sole desire in all this was to hear the damsel sing；so he said to Noureddin'O my lordthou hast rewarded me munificentlybut I beg of thy great bounty that thou wilt let this damsel sing an airthat I may hear her.'So Noureddin said'O Enis el Jelis！'
'Yes，'replied she. And he said'My life on theesing us something for the sake of this fishermanfor he wishes to hear thee.'So she took the lute and struck the stringsafter she had tuned themand sang the following verses：
The fingers of the lovely maid went wandering o'er the luteAnd many a soul to ravishment its music did compel.
She sangand loher singing cured the deaf man of his illAnd he that erst was dumb exclaimed'Thou hast indeed done well！'
Then she played againso admirably that she ravished their wits，and sang the following verses：
Thou honour'dst uswhen thou didst in our land alight；Thy lustre hath dispelled the moonless midnight gloom！
Wherefore with camphor white and rose-water and musk It e'en behoveth us our dwelling to perfume.
At this the Khalif was agitated and so overcome with emotion that he was not master of himself for excess of delightand he exclaimed'By Allahit is good！By Allahit is good！By Allah，it is good！'Quoth Noureddin'O fishermandoth this damsel please thee？'Ayby Allah！'replied he. Whereupon said Noureddin'I make thee a present of herthe present of a generous man who does not go back on his giving nor will revoke his gift.'Then he sprang to his feet and taking a mantlethrew it over the pretended fisherman and bade him take the damsel and begone. But she looked at him and said'O my lordart thou going away without bidding me adieu？ If it must be soat least，stay whilst I bid thee farewell and make known my case.'And she repeated the following verses：
I am filled full of longing pain and memory and doleTill I for languor am become a body without soul.
Say not to mebeloved one'Thou'lt grow consoled for me；'When such affliction holds the heartwhat is there can console？
If that a creature in his tears could swim as in a seaI to do this of all that breathe were surely first and sole.
O thouthe love of whom doth fill my heart and overflowEven when winewith water mixedfills up the brimming bowl，O thou for whom desire torments my body and my spright！This severance is the thing I feared was writ on fortune's scroll.
