' But instead of agreeing to that, 'Look you,' said he, 'how
genies treat their wives whom they suspect: she has received you
here, and were I certain that she had put any further affront upon
me, I would put you to death this minute: but I will be content to
transform you into a dog, ape, lion, or bird. Take your choice of
any of these; I will leave it to yourself.'
These words gave me some hope to mollify him. 'Oh genie,' said I,
'moderate your passion, and since you will not take away my life,
give it me generously; I shall always remember you, if you pardon
me, as one of the best men in the world.'
'All that I can do for you,' said he, 'is, not to take your life:
do not flatter yourself that I will send you back safe and sound; I
must let you feel what I am able to do by my enchantments.' So
saying, he laid violent hands on me, and carried me across the
vault of the subterranean palace, which opened to give him passage.
Then he flew up with me so high that the earth seemed to be only a
little white cloud; from thence he came down like lightning, and
alighted upon the ridge of a mountain.
There he took up a handful of earth, and pronounced, or rather
muttered, some words which I did not understand, and threw it upon
me.
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