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Then quoth he, "Up and to it; I am sure of His beneficence,

Inshallah!" So he continued:-

When thou art seized of Evil Fate, assume * The noble soul's long

suffering: 'tis thy best: Complain not to the creature; this be

plaint * From one most Ruthful to the ruthlessest.

The Fisherman, when he had looked at the dead ass, got it free of

the toils and wrung out and spread his net; then he plunged into

the sea, saying, "In Allah's name!" and made a cast and pulled at

it, but it grew heavy and settled down more firmly than the first

time. Now he thought that there were fish in it, and he made it

fast, and doffing his clothes went into the water, and dived and

haled until he drew it up upon dry land. Then found he in it a

large earthen pitcher which was full of sand and mud; and seeing

this he was greatly troubled and began repeating these

verses[FN#61]:-