--- title: Opening, part 16 — The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 16, «The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient» by Penrhyn Wingfield Coussens: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Just then he heard close to him a funny sort of chuckle, and turning round, he saw a large fish staring at him with ro --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/16/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 Jade Story Book; Stories from the…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/) / Opening, part 16 # Opening, part 16 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/16/) **2** “What fools these men are,” thought Sin.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") “I see that I must wait until I can explain the matter to Le.”[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") Chang took the fish straight to Mr. Le, and said: “Your Excellency, here is the finest carp I have ever seen.”[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") “Listen to me, Le,” said Sin, as loudly as he could.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am your friend, Sin, and I put on this fish’s skin just to see what it is like to be a fish.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") This scoundrel Chang has tortured me.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") Please tell him to put me back into the river, as I wish to take my former shape again.”[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") “This is a very peculiar fish,” said Le; “why, he grunts like a pig.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") Still, he will make a good dish, so take him to the cook.”[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh!” groaned Sin, “would you eat your old friend, Le?”[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") But Le didn’t understand either, so Chang started for the kitchen.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") “My only chance now is that the cook will know me,” thought Sin.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") And now his last hope fled, for as Chang handed the carp to the cook, Sin said as distinctly as he could, “Cook, I am no fish, but Mr. Sin.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") I have always treated you well, so please take me back to the river.”[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") “This is a noisy carp you have caught, Chang,” said the cook, “but he won’t grunt much longer.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") Hand me the chopper.”[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") And now Sin made all the noise he could.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") He screamed, “Spare me\![79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") Spare me, cook.”[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") But the cook took no notice of him.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") Placing him on the kitchen block, he lifted the chopper, and gave him a violent blow on the head.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh!” exclaimed Sin, “what an awful knock I have given myself.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") I must have fallen out of bed and struck my head on the floor.”[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") He was now thoroughly awake, but it was some time before he could realize that he was safe in his own room, so real had his experiences seemed.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") But he at length breathed a sigh of relief, for he knew that it was only a dream.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") PRINCE ZEYN ALASNAM AND THE SULTAN OF THE GENII[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") There was a Sultan of Bussorah blessed with great prosperity and happy in the affections of his people.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") His only source of affliction was, that he was childless.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") But after many years had passed a son was born to him, whom he named Zeyn Alasnam.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") Zeyn was educated with the greatest care.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") While, however, the prince was yet young, the good sultan fell sick of a disorder, which all the skill of his physicians could not cure, and presently he died.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") As soon as the mourning for his father was passed, Prince Zeyn began to show that he was unfit to govern a kingdom.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") He gave way to all kinds of dissipation and conferred on his youthful but evil associates the chief offices in the kingdom.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") He lost all the respect of his people and emptied his treasury.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") The queen, his mother, tried to correct her son’s conduct, assuring him that if he did not take another course, he would cause some revolution, which perhaps might cost him his crown and his life.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") What she thus foretold had nearly happened.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") The people began to murmur against the government, and their murmurs would certainly have been followed by a general revolt if the sultan had not listened to his mother and suffered himself to be prevailed on.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") He dismissed his youthful advisers and committed the government to discreet aged men.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Zeyn, seeing all his wealth consumed, repented that he had made no better use of it.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") He fell into a profound melancholy and nothing could comfort him.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") One night he saw in a dream a venerable old man coming towards him, who with a smiling countenance said: “Know, Zeyn, that there is no sorrow but what is followed by mirth; no misfortune but what in the end brings some happiness.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") If you desire to see the end of your affliction, set out for Grand Cairo, where great prosperity awaits you.”[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") The young sultan was much struck with his dream, and spoke of it very seriously to his mother, who only laughed at it.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") “My son,” said she, “would you leave your kingdom and go into Egypt on the faith of a dream, which may be illusive?”[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") “Why not, madam?” answered Zeyn; “do you imagine all dreams are worthless?[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") No, no, they often are divinely inspired.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") The old man who appeared to me had something holy about his person.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") I rely on the promises he has made me, and am resolved to follow his advice.”[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") The queen endeavored to dissuade him, but in vain.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") The sultan entreated her to undertake the government of the kingdom, and set out one night very privately from his palace and took the road to Cairo, alone and unattended.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") After much trouble and fatigue he arrived at that famous city.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") He alighted at the gate of a mosque, where, being spent with weariness, he lay down.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") No sooner was he fallen asleep than he saw the same old man, who said to him: “I am pleased with you, my son.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") You have believed me, and now I want you to know that I have not imposed on you this long journey with any other design than to try you.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") I find you have courage and resolution.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") You deserve I should make you the richest and happiest prince in the world.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") Return to Bussorah and you shall find immense wealth in your palace.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") No king ever possessed so rich a treasure.”[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") Prince Zeyn was not pleased with his dream.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") “Alas!” thought he to himself when he awoke, “how much was I mistaken\![121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") That old man is no other than the production of my disturbed imagination.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") My fancy was so full of him that it is no wonder I have seen him again.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") I had best return to Bussorah.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") What should I do here any longer?[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") It is fortunate that I told none but my mother the motive of my journey.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") I should become a jest to my people were they to know it.”[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") Accordingly, he set out for his kingdom, and as soon as he arrived there the queen asked him whether he returned well pleased.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") He told her all that had happened, and was so much concerned for having been so foolish that the queen, instead of adding to his vexation by reproving or laughing at him, comforted him.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") “Forbear afflicting yourself, my son,” said she; “if God has appointed you riches, you will have them without any trouble.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") Be contented.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") Apply yourself to making your subjects happy.[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") By securing their happiness you will establish your own.”[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") Sultan Zeyn vowed that he would for the future follow his mother’s advice and be directed by the wise viziers she had chosen to assist him in the government.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") But the very night after he returned to his palace he saw the old man the third time in a dream, who said to him: “The time of your prosperity is come, brave Zeyn.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") To-morrow morning, as soon as you are up, take a pick-axe and dig in the late sultan’s private room.[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") You will there find a rich treasure.”[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") As soon as the sultan awoke he got up, ran to the queen’s apartment, and with much eagerness told her the new dream of that night.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") “Really, my son,” said the queen, smiling, “this is a very queer old man; but have you a mind to believe him again?[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") At any rate, the task now enjoined on you is not so bad as your former long journeys.”[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/16/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/16/) - next →: [Opening, part 17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/17/) - ↑ back to [The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/)