and fell asunder into planks and all and everything on board were
plunged into the sea. As for me, I tore off all my clothes but my
gown and swam a little way, till I happened upon one of the
ship's planks whereto I clung and bestrode it like a horse,
whilst the winds and the waters sported with me and the waves
carried me up and cast me down; and I was in most piteous plight
for fear and distress and hunger and thirst. Then I reproached
myself for what I had done and my soul was weary after a life of
ease and comfort; and I said to myself, "O Sindbad, O Seaman,
thou repentest not and yet thou art ever suffering hardships and
travails; yet wilt thou not renounce sea-travel; or, an thou say,
'I renounce,' thou liest in thy renouncement. Endure then with
patience that which thou sufferest, for verily thou deservest all
that betideth thee!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Five Hundred and Sixty-fourth Night,

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the
Seaman continued:--But when I had bestridden the plank, quoth I
to myself, "Thou deservest all that betideth thee. All this is
decreed to me of Allah (whose name be exalted!), to turn me from
my greed of gain, whence ariseth all that I endure, for I have
wealth galore." Then I returned to my senses and said, "In very
sooth, this time I repent to the Most High, with a sincere
repentance, of my lust for gain and venture; and never will I
again name travel with tongue nor in thought." And I ceased not
to humble myself before Almighty Allah and weep and bewail
myself, recalling my former estate of solace and satisfaction and
mirth and merriment and joyance; and thus I abode two days, at