Perseveringly he daily returned, and never felt disconcerted at the
same often repeated answer. One day, the Caliph called on the Vizier,
as the youth was repeating his statement.
Full of astonishment the Caliph listened to the strange demand, and
being in no humor for having the poor youth's head taken off, but on
the contrary, being rather inclined for pleasantry, his Mightiness
condescendingly said: "For the great, the wise, or the brave, to
request a Princess for wife, is a moderate demand; but what are
your claims? To be the possessor of my daughter you must distinguish
yourself by one of these attributes, or else by some great
undertaking. Ages ago a carbuncle of inestimable value was lost in the
Tigris; he who finds it shall have the hand of my daughter."
The youth, satisfied with the promise of the Caliph, went to the
shores of the Tigris. With a small vessel he went every morning to the
river, scooping out the water and throwing it on the land; and after
having for hours thus employed himself, he knelt down and prayed. The
fishes became at last uneasy at his perseverance; and being fearful
that, in the course of time, he might exhaust the waters, they
assembled in great council.
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