صفحة 370 من 1116

Then the scorpion changed to a vulture and the serpent became an

eagle which set upon the vulture, and hunted him for an hour's

time, till he became a black tom cat, which miauled and grinned

and spat. Thereupon the eagle changed into a piebald wolf and

these two battled in the palace for a long time, when the cat,

seeing himself overcome, changed into a worm and crept into a

huge red pomegranate,[FN#250] which lay beside the jetting

fountain in the midst of the palace hall. Whereupon the

pomegranate swelled to the size of a water melon in air; and,

falling upon the marble pavement of the palace, broke to pieces,

and all the grains fell out and were scattered about till they

covered the whole floor. Then the wolf shook himself and became a

snow white cock, which fell to picking up the grains purposing

not to leave one; but by doom of destiny one seed rolled to the

fountain edge and there lay hid.