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dinars, albeit I know them to be worth so many thousand dinars, and I make him a present of them.” So saying, he gave me the bag and the carpet, with all the jewels thereon, for which I thanked him, and all the merchants present praised him. Then I carried all this to the jewel-market and sat there to sell and buy. Among the jewels was a round amulet of the handiwork of the masters,[1] weighing half a pound. It was of bright red cornelian and on both sides of it were graven characters and talismans, like unto the tracks of ants; but I knew not its use.
I bought and sold a whole year, at the end of which time I took the amulet and said to myself, “This hath been with me a great while, and I know not what it is nor what is its use.” So I gave it to the broker, who went round with it and returned, saying, “None of the merchants will give more than ten dirhems for it.” Quoth I, “I will not sell it at that price.” And he threw it in my face and went away. Another day I again offered it for sale and its price reached fifteen dirhems; so I took it from the broker in a pet and threw it back into the tray. Presently, as I sat in my shop, there came up to me a man, who bore the traces of travel, and saluting me, said, “By thy leave, I will turn over thy wares.” “It is well,” answered I, and indeed I was still wroth by reason of the lack of demand for the amulet.
So he fell to turning over my wares, but took nought thereof save the amulet, which when he saw, he said, “Praised be God!” and kissed his hand. Then said he to me, “O my lord, wilt thou sell this?” And I said, “Yes,” being still angry. Quoth he, “What is its price?” And I, “How much wilt thou give?” “Twenty dinars,” answered he. I thought he was making mock of me and said, “Go thy ways.” Quoth he, “I will give thee fifty
- ↑ i.e. of those learned in occult arts.
