The Arabian Nights; A Selection of Stories from Alif Laila Wa Laila

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1896. Excerpt: ... THE STORY OF THE HUMPBACK.1 THERE was in ancient times, in the city of Balsora, a tailor who enjoyed an ample income, and was fond of sport and merriment. He was in the habit of going out occasionally with his wife, that they might amuse themselves with strange and diverting scenes; and one day they went forth in the afternoon, and, returning home in the evening, met a humpbacked man, whose aspect was such as to excite laughter in the angry, and to dispel anxiety and grief: so they approached him to enjoy the pleasure of gazing at him, and invited him to return with them to their house, and to join with them in a carousal that night. He assented to their proposal; and after he had gone with them to the house, the tailor went- out to the market, night having then approached. He bought some fried fish, and bread, and limes, and sweetmeats, and, returning with them, placed the fish before the humpback; and they sat down to eat; and the tailor's wife took a large piece of fish and crammed the humpback with it, and, closing his mouth with her hand, said, By Allah, thou shalt not swallow it but by gulping it at once, and I will not give thee time to chew it. He therefore swallowed it; but it contained a large and sharp bone, which stuck across in his throat, his destiny having so determined, and he expired. The tailor 1 This amusing story has been widely imiftted, in various nations. exclaimed, There is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great Alas, that this poor creature should not have died but in this manner by our hands Wherefore this idling? exclaimed the woman. And what can I do? asked her husband. Arise, she answered, and take him in thy bosom, and cover him with a silk napkin: I will go out first, and do thou follow me, this very night, and say, This is my son, and...