Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Ortoli

“ THE VIZIER, THE MONKEY, THE
LION, AND THE SERPENT
Once on a time a ruler who was the king of men, as well as the king of beasts, called his Vizier, Rustem, to whom he had confided the education of his only son, and said:
"Tell me, does my son follow your advice, and does he give promise of making a worthy successor of his father?"
"Though he is still youthful, the young prince bids fair to become the king of men," said Rustem; "your son is already fitted to rule both man and beast." ”

“ The maid went into the city, secured the architect, and when three days had passed the workmen arrived.
"Queen of women," said the architect, "what can I do to please you?"
"I want you to build me a marvellous palace of pure gold, with ten doors of diamonds and a thousand windows of crystal. Build me a palace supported by a hundred columns of rubies and emeralds. I want it to be so resplendent that the neighboring kings and princes will stand amazed when they behold it." ”

“ One day Mirza was sitting by the roadside, her head in her hands, weeping sadly. She was thinking of the great palace166 where she was born, and of her more fortunate sisters, who lacked for nothing, and who had bracelets of gold and diamonds. She thought also of her cruel father, whom she still loved with all her heart. Suddenly Mirza felt a hand on her shoulder, and began to tremble with fear. It was the Queen of the Fairies, who looked at her with a smile.
"My beautiful child, why lament?" said the Queen. "All things are possible to me. Make three wishes and you will be satisfied at once." ”

“ The roaring of the Lion, as it seemed, was a call to the Wolf, who soon made his appearance at the foot of the tree.
"You are late, Wolf!" exclaimed the Lion; "where do you come from?"
"I have been at Offemborough," said the Wolf, "where I have tasted human flesh. There everyone is dying of thirst, and the people are too weak to protect themselves. That is why I am late." At this the Lion laughed heartily. ”

“ New weapons were invented, and the hunters watched day and night, killing all the lapwings that were so unfortunate as to appear in sight.
"Lord, have mercy on us!" exclaimed the lapwings, "and blind the eyes of the cruel men who are killing us!"
But the crown of the lapwings was so brilliant that it resembled the sun's rays, and even in the darkness it shone like the stars. There was no rest or escape for these unfortunate birds. The dark night, even, was as fatal to them as the day. The huntsmen pursued them with so much vigor that only ten remained alive. ”

“ I have known a great many men, and during these long years it has been well-nigh impossible for me to acquire a friend. How, at your age, and in such a short time, have you been able to find fifty friends? Learn from me, my son, to know human nature."
The old merchant strangled a sheep, put the carcass in a sack, and stained his son's clothing with the blood of the animal. ”

“ THE KING AND THE LAPWINGS
One day the great King of the Magicians and Sorcerers was leaving his country to visit a neighboring Queen. He was leaning on his walking-stick, having been travelling since the break of day, when the sun rose and spread his beneficent rays over all nature. The birds sang blithely, and the little crickets in the grass made themselves noisy; but the King, while enjoying the scene and the sounds around him, went forward without delay. The sun shone brightly, the birds were joyous, and all nature seemed to be happy, but the King suffered from fatigue. ”

“ All the great physicians of the world have exhausted their science in her behalf, and I am in despair."
"You must have courage," said the young man; "your daughter will be cured in a few days."
"Stranger," said the famous monarch, "if you can work such a wonderful miracle as this, all that I have is yours. The riches that will fall to you will be beyond computation. You shall have millions of gold pieces, a hundred towns and ten provinces shall be yours, and you may even command my crown if you succeed in curing my daughter." ”

“ While the famine in that country lasted, Abdallah established a tavern, where everybody could get a meal without money and without price. The marvellous sack was always ready to carry out the will of its master, and it was always ready to furnish the most savory dishes and the most exquisite wines, and this went on as long as the famine lasted. ”

“ IX
"JUMP IN MY SACK!"
In a barren and an unproductive country there lived, a long time ago, a father and his twelve children. A terrible famine came on the country, and the unfortunate father said to his sons:
"My children, I have nothing whatever to give you. Go out into the world, knock at each door, ask for work, and perhaps you will find the means of making your living."
At these words the youngest of the twelve brothers, Abdallah, began to cry, and said:
"I am crippled, and it is difficult for me to walk. How can I gain my livelihood?" ”

“ She had heard it one day when she refused to take pity on an old beggar-woman, and now she knew that the woman was no other than the Queen of the Fairies in disguise.
The child grew and thrived, and when he was sixteen, his mother said:
"My son, I have many trials. We are poor and I want you to learn a trade. What do you want to do?"
"Nothing."
"You do not want to work?"
"Oh, no," answered Loony John; "work is tiresome."
"Ah!" thought the poor mother, "the Queen of the Fairies is taking her revenge."
Some days afterward the good woman needed a trivet, and sent her son to buy it. ”

“ To these questions the little gray man replied:
"Make the most beautiful palace to be found in all the world."
Mirza, the princess, was filled with astonishment. Never before had she seen so many brownies gathered together in one place, and she said to herself, "Surely these must be the children of the fairies;"183 and, full of happiness, she went here and there, speaking a kind word to all, and at every step she took hundreds of precious stones were scattered under her feet, and, at each smile a rose fell. ”

“ All this time Teenchy Duck was promenading up and down, to the right and to the left, singing, at the top of her voice:
"Quack! quack! Give me back my beautiful money!"
"Heavens!" said the Prince, stopping his ears, "I am tired of hearing this ugly fowl squall and squawk. Quick! throw her in the well or the furnace, so that we may be rid of her."
"What shall we do first?" the servants asked.
"It matters not," said the Prince, "so long as we are rid of her."
The servants took Teenchy Duck and threw her in the well, thinking this the easiest and the quickest way to dispose of her. ”

“ One day a Tiger, who lived not far from this so-called king of the forest and plain, mustered up courage, and resolved to cultivate the good-will of his powerful neighbor by making him a visit. So he took with him his son, the young Tiger, who was already well grown. While yet at a distance the Tiger saw the powerful Sheep, and saluted him very humbly. Coming nearer, the Tiger, still humble and polite, inquired after the health of Daddy Sheep's family. ”

“ The Monkey, nimbler than the Vizier, seized the rope and ran up it, much to the surprise of the traveller, who had expected a different visitor.
"You will not be sorry for this," said the Monkey, by way of apology. "I know how to be grateful for a service, and I know how to cherish a benefactor. To prove to you that I am in earnest, I will give you a piece of advice. Do not rescue the man whose voice you heard in the pitfall. ”

“ You have forgotten the good advice given you by the Lion and the Monkey. However, let us forget that. I will be more cunning than the vile wretch who is seeking your ruin."
"What must be done?" the traveller asked.
"Take this herb. It alone has virtue to cure the poison with which I have inoculated219 the King's favorite wife. The monarch has now become a victim of the keenest grief, and you alone can appease it. He will soon forget the crime of which you are accused. He who can make himself useful is always innocent. Advertise your talents; that is the way to success. ”

“ I have hunted for them, but I cannot find a single one."
"We should have thought about the possibility of a storm," said the shrewd woman. "It was not hens you should have cultivated, my young friend, but sausages—for sausages will withstand the wind and hail."
"But how would the sausages grow?" asked Loony John, drying his tears.
"Why, like apples and cherries; but the trees, instead of producing these fruits, bear beautiful sausages. People who are not educated think that sausages are only made by those who deal in meat. ”

“ When the young man's education was almost completed his father determined that he should travel in foreign parts.
"My son," said the old man, "I have gray hairs and a white beard, and in my long career it has been given to me to know and appreciate the real value of men and things. You must learn, then, my son, that among the pressing necessities of life the greatest of all is a good friend.156 Riches take wings—a touch of providence, a turn of the wheel of fortune, throws the richest into the depths of despair; but death alone, which carries all off, can take away a friend. ”

“ Is it my fate to die of hunger at the foot of this tree, or become the prey of the ravenous beasts that roam through this forest? No! Better a thousand times that I should die at once."
With this the unfortunate brother climbed the tree, at the foot of which he found himself, groping his way up the trunk, and was preparing to throw himself to the ground to end his existence then and there, when he heard in the forest, near at hand, the terrible roaring of a lion.44 At this sound the leaves and branches of the tree trembled, and the blind unfortunate paused. ”

“ The Vizier had made the young prince believe that the people whom he was one day to govern were a lot of miserable cattle who were to be imposed on at the King's will.
It happened in those days that a merchant came to the King's palace, having for sale a collection of rich jewels. He had them of all kinds and all prices—diamonds, pearls, rubies, and emeralds—all heaped together in a beautiful casket of carved cedarwood. The Prince remained for hours admiring this marvellous collection of treasures. ”

“ Come in! but to-morrow you shall be hanged."
"While I am waiting to balance myself on a limb," said Abdallah, cheerfully, "have my supper prepared. My appetite is large."
The cruel giant smiled at Abdallah's pretensions, and as he was a charming man himself, he took occasion to divert Abdallah. The supper was fine, and the evening was very pleasant. The giant related his exploits. He had fought a lion, and he had vanquished a sea-serpent with seven heads which had attacked him. One day, when an army came to attack him, he had the soldiers hung to the trees that surrounded his castle. ”

“ My dear companions, what can I do to please you this day?"
"Great Prince!" they replied, "you can give us our lives by removing these unfortunate gifts that adorn our heads—by taking away these golden crowns that have been the cause of all our misfortunes."
"I will grant your desire," said the great74 King; "but in remembrance of your kindness to me you shall hereafter wear a diadem of feathers; but bear in mind that happiness is not in the gift of the great or the rich, but that it only belongs to those who earn it." ”

“ The bewildered young princess consented to make the sacrifice. This time, she thought, she could drink to her heart's content. Night came and the sun sank behind the horizon, and the perfidious servant stripped her mistress of her fine clothes and gave them to her own daughter, Calamir. The poor blind girl was left by the roadside, and the waiting-maid and her daughter continued their journey toward the city where the prince resided. ”

“ They had scarcely gone ten paces when they met Magor and his charming captive. At sight of these unknown persons, the Sorcerer stood dumb with amazement. At last, full of rage, he cried out:
236
"Why did you come here, miserable creatures? Dare you even pretend to take from me the pearl of pearls, the beauty without rival that I have on my arm, my pretty prisoner, the Princess of Golconda?"
"Yes," said the Prince; "and all your magic will serve to confound you, if you do not use your superhuman art."
"So be it," assented Magor. "I will not crush you like an earthworm. I will do better. ”

“ What is a little suffering in comparison with the happy times we should have? the soft beds we should sleep in, the fine meats that will be offered us, and the good wines we have not tasted in so long? ”