Know, O my brothers and friends and companions all, that when I
left voyaging and commercing, I said in myself, "Sufficeth me
that hath befallen me;" and I spent my time in solace and
pleasure. One day as I sat at home there came a knock at the
door, and when the porter opened a page entered and said, "The
Caliph biddeth thee to him." I went with him to the King's
majesty and kissed ground and saluted him; whereupon he welcomed
me and entreated me with honour and said, "O Sindbad, I have an
occasion for thee: wilt thou do it?" So I kissed his hand and
asked him, saying, "O my lord, what occasion hath the master for
the slave?"; whereto he answered me, "I am minded that thou
travel to the King of Sarandib and carry to him our writ and our
gift, for that he hath sent to us a present and a letter. I
trembled at these words and rejoined, "By Allah the Omnipotent, O
my lord, I have taken a loathing to wayfare, and when I hear the
words 'Voyage' or 'Travel,' my limbs tremble for what hath
befallen me of hardships and horrors. Indeed I have no desire
whatever for this; more by token as I have bound myself by oath
not to quit Baghdad." Then I informed the Caliph of all I had
passed through from first to last, and he marvelled with
exceeding marvel and said, "By the Almighty, O Sindbad, from ages
of old such mishaps as happened to thee were never know to happen
to any, and thou dost only right never even to talk of travel.
For our sake, however, thou wilt go this time and carry our
present and our letter to him of Sarandib; and Inshallah--by
God's leave!--thou shalt return quickly; and on this wise we
shall be under no obligation to the said King." I replied that I
heard and obeyed, being unable to oppose his command, so he gave
me the gifts and the missive with money to pay my way and I
kissed hands and left the presence. Then I dropped down from