the Caliph, Watik Billeh, for it was he himſelf, that hy the adventure of Haroun Arreſchid, his grandfather, walked out very often in the nighttime in the ſtreets of Bagdad to ſee what paſſed, and to be capable of making a judgement himſelf how the people liked his government; this Caliph, I ſay, who was diſguiſed like a merchant, was in the utmoſt ſurpriſe at theſe words of the porter's; he had been out that night with his prime Vizier, and having met a fiſherman he aſked him whither he went; I am going, anſwered he, to draw up my nets, which I have left ever ſince yeſterday morning in the Tygris. And what will you do with the fiſh you catch? replied the Caliph. Tomorrow, ſaid he, I will go ſell it in the market of Bagdad, to help to maintain my wife and three children. Will you bargain with me for your whole draught? replied Wattik Billah With all my heart, anſwered the fiſherman. Well ſaid the Caliph, there are ten ſequins of gold for it; will that ſatisfy you the fiſherman was ſo amazed at ſuch a piece of generoſity, that he almoſt imagined he was in a dream: but putting the ſequins in his pocket, my lord, replied he, traſported, if I were to have as much for every draught I ſhould ſoon be richer and more powerful than the ſovereign commander of the faithfnl.
The Caliph ſmiled at this compariſon; he went to the ſhore of the Tygris, entered into the fiſherman's boat, and, with his Vizier, having helped him to draw up his nets, he was very much amazed at finding in them the two little crumps of Damaſcus, and a ſuck in which was the third.
An adventure ſo ſurpriſing, ſtruck hin with admiration Since this draught belongs to me, ſaid he to the fiſherman, who was as much ſurpriſed as the Caliph, I am reſolved to carry it home
