The Story of the Third Sheykh and the Mule

The mule that thou seest was my wife: she became
enamoured of a black slave; and when I discovered her
with him, she took a mug of water, and, having uttered a
spell over it, sprinkled me, and transformed me into a dog.
In this state, I ran to the shop of a butcher, whose daughter
saw me, and being skilled in enchantment, restored me to
my original form, and instructed me to enchant my wife in
the manner thou beholdest. — And now I hope that thou wilt
remit to me also a third of the merchant's offence. Divinely
was he gifted who said.

Sow good, even on an unworthy soil ; for it will not be lost
wherever it is sown.

When the sheykh had thus finished his story, the Jinni
shook with delight, and remitted the remaining third of his
claim to the merchant's blood. The merchant then approached
the sheykhs, and thanked them, and they congratulated him
on his safety; and each went his way.

But this, said Shahrazad, is not more wonderful than the
story of the fisherman. The King asked her, And what is
the story of the fisherman? And she related it as follows