of which threw me into a fit.  When I was come to myself again, I expostulated with the genie, why he made me languish in expectation of death:  “Strike,” cried I, “for I am ready to receive the mortal blow, and expect it as the greatest favour you can show me.”  But instead of agreeing to that, “Behold,” said he, “how genies treat their wives whom they suspect of unfaithfulness; she has received thee here, and were I certain that she had put any further affront upon me, I would put thee to death this minute:  but I will content myself with transforming thee into a dog, ape, lion, or bird; take thy choice of any of these, I will leave it to thyself.”

These words gave me some hopes of being able to appease him:  “O genie,” said I, “moderate your passion, and since you will not take away my life, give it me generously.  I shall always remember your clemency, if you pardon me, as one of the best men in the world pardoned one of his neighbours that bore him a mortal hatred.  The genie asked me what had passed between those two neighbours, and said, he would have patience till he heard the story, which I related to him; and I believe, madam, you will not be displeased if I now repeat it.

The Story of the Envious Man, and of him that he Envied.

In a considerable town two persons dwelt in adjoining houses.  One of them conceived such a violent hatred against the other, that the hated party resolved to remove to a distance, being persuaded that their being neighbours was the only cause of this animosity; for though he had done him several pieces of service, he found that his hatred was not diminished; he therefore sold his house, with what goods he had left, and retired to the capital city of a kingdom which was not far distant.  Here he bought a little spot of ground, which lay about half a league from the city; where he had a convenient house, with a garden, and a pretty spacious court, wherein there was a deep well, which was not in use.

The honest man having made this purchase put on a dervise’s habit, intending to lead a retired life, and caused several cells to be made in the house, where in a short time he established a numerous society of dervises.  He soon came to be publicly known by his virtue, through which he acquired the esteem of many people, as well of the commonalty as of the chief of the city.  In short, he was much honoured and courted by all ranks.  People came from afar to recommend themselves to his prayers; and all who visited him, published what blessings they received through his means.

The great reputation of this honest man having spread to the town from whence he had come, it touched the envious man so much to the quick, that he left his house and affairs with a resolution to ruin him.  With this intent he went to the new convent of dervises, of which his former neighbour was the head, who received him with all imaginable tokens of friendship.  The envious man told him that he was come on purpose to communicate a business of importance, which he could not do but in private; and “that nobody may hear us, let us,” said he, “take a walk in your court; and seeing night begins to draw on, command your dervises to retire to their cells.”  The chief of the dervises did as he was required.