--- title: Opening, part 4 — The Arabian Nights Entertainments · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 4, «The Arabian Nights Entertainments» by Andrew Lang: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: The physician Douban entered the hall and bowed low to the ground. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The Arabian Nights Entertainments](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/) / Opening, part 4 # Opening, part 4 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/) **2** - [101](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/101/) — Then, to the great astonishment of the king, the eyes opened, and the head said, "Your majesty, open the book." - [102](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/102/) — The king did so, and finding that the first leaf stuck against the second, he put his finger in his mouth, to turn it more easily. - [103](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/103/) — He did the same thing till he reached the sixth page, and not seeing any writing on it, "Physician," he said, "there is no writing." - [104](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/104/) — "Turn over a few more pages," answered the head. - [105](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/105/) — The king went on turning, still putting his finger in his mouth, till the poison in which each page was dipped took effect. - [106](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/106/) — His sight failed him, and he fell at the foot of his throne. - [107](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/107/) — When the physician's head saw that the poison had taken effect, and that the king had only a few more minutes to live, "Tyrant," it cried, "see how cruelty and injustice are punished." - [108](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/108/) — Scarcely had it uttered these words than the king died, and the head lost also the little life that had remained in it. - [109](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/109/) — That is the end of the story of the Greek king, and now let us return to the fisherman and the genius. - [110](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/110/) — "If the Greek king," said the fisherman, "had spared the physician, he would not have thus died. - [111](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/111/) — The same thing applies to you. - [112](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/112/) — Now I am going to throw you into the sea." - [113](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/113/) — "My friend," said the genius, "do not do such a cruel thing. - [114](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/114/) — Do not treat me as Imma treated Ateca." - [115](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/115/) — "What did Imma do to Ateca?" asked the fisherman. - [116](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/116/) — "Do you think I can tell you while I am shut up in here?" replied the genius. " - [117](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/117/) — Let me out, and I will make you rich." - [118](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/118/) — The hope of being no longer poor made the fisherman give way. - [119](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/119/) — "If you will give me your promise to do this, I will open the lid. - [120](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/120/) — I do not think you will dare to break your word." - [121](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/121/) — The genius promised, and the fisherman lifted the lid. - [122](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/122/) — He came out at once in smoke, and then, having resumed his proper form, the first thing he did was to kick the vase into the sea. - [123](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/123/) — This frightened the fisherman, but the genius laughed and said, "Do not be afraid; I only did it to frighten you, and to show you that I intend to keep my word; take your nets and follow me." - [124](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/124/) — He began to walk in front of the fisherman, who followed him with some misgivings. - [125](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/125/) — They passed in front of the town, and went up a mountain and then down into a great plain, where there was a large lake lying between four hills. - [126](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/126/) — When they reached the lake the genius said to the fisherman, "Throw your nets and catch fish." - [127](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/127/) — The fisherman did as he was told, hoping for a good catch, as he saw plenty of fish. - [128](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/128/) — What was his astonishment at seeing that there were four quite different kinds, some white, some red, some blue, and some yellow. - [129](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/129/) — He caught four, one of each colour. - [130](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/130/) — As he had never seen any like them he admired them very much, and he was very pleased to think how much money he would get for them. - [131](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/131/) — "Take these fish and carry them to the Sultan, who will give you more money for them than you have ever had in your life. - [132](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/132/) — You can come every day to fish in this lake, but be careful not to throw your nets more than once every day, otherwise some harm will happen to you. - [133](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/133/) — If you follow my advice carefully you will find it good." - [134](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/134/) — Saying these words, he struck his foot against the ground, which opened, and when he had disappeared, it closed immediately. - [135](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/135/) — The fisherman resolved to obey the genius exactly, so he did not cast his nets a second time, but walked into the town to sell his fish at the palace. - [136](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/136/) — When the Sultan saw the fish he was much astonished. - [137](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/137/) — He looked at them one after the other, and when he had admired them long enough, "Take these fish," he said to his first vizir, "and given them to the clever cook the Emperor of the Greeks sent me. - [138](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/138/) — I think they must be as good as they are beautiful." [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/4/) **2** - ← previous: [Opening, part 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/3/) - next →: [Opening, part 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/5/) - ↑ back to [The Arabian Nights Entertainments](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg128/)