I implore you to satisfy my curiosity.' To this they only answered that it was no business of mine to ask such questions, and that I should do well to hold my peace.
We passed that day in conversation on indifferent subjects; and when night was come and every man had finished his supper, the old man brought in the blue basins, and the young gentlemen bedaubed their faces, wept and beat themselves, crying, 'This is the fruit of our idleness and wickedness,' as before, and continued the same actions the following night. At last, not being able to resist my curiosity, I earnestly prayed them to satisfy me, or to show me how to return to my own kingdom; for it was impossible for me to keep them company any longer, and to see every night such an odd spectacle, without being permitted to know the reason.
One of the gentlemen answered in behalf of the rest, 'Do not wonder at our conduct in regard to yourself, and that hitherto we have not granted your request. It is out of mere kindness, to save you from the pain of being reduced to the same condition. If you have a mind to try our unfortunate fate, you need but speak, and we will give you the satisfaction you desire.' I told them I was resolved on it, let what would be the consequence. 'Once more,' said the same gentleman, 'we advise you to restrain your curiosity; it will cost you the loss of your right eye.'
'No matter,' said I; 'I declare to you, that if such a misfortune does befall me, I will impute it not to you, but to myself.'
He further represented to me that when I had lost an eye, I must not hope to stay with them, if I were so minded, because their number was complete, and no addition could be made to it. I told them that it would be a great satisfaction to me never to part from such pleasant gentlemen, but if necessary I was ready to submit; and, let it cost me what it would, I begged them to grant my request.
The ten gentlemen, perceiving that I was so fixed in my resolution, took a sheep and killed it, and after they had taken off the skin, presented me with a knife, saying it would be useful to me on a certain occasion, which they would tell me of presently. 'We must sew you into this skin,' said they, 'and then leave you; upon which a fowl of a monstrous size, called a roc, will appear in the air, and taking you to be a sheep, will come down upon you,
