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Tale of the Husband and the Parrot.
A certain man and a merchant to boot had married a fair wife, a woman
of perfect beauty and grace, symmetry and loveliness, of whom he was
mad-jealous, and who contrived successfully to keep him from travel.
At last an occasion compelling him to leave her, he went to the birdmarket
and bought him for one hundred gold pieces a she-parrot
which heset in his house to act as duenna, expecting her to acquaint
him on his return with what had passed during the whole time of his
absence; for the bird was kenning and cunning and never forgot what
she had seen and heard.
Now his fair wife had fallen in love with a young Turk, who used to
visit her, and she feasted him by day and lay with him by night. When
the man had made his journey andwon his wish he came home; and,
at once causing the Parrot be brought to him, questioned her concerning
the
conduct
of
his consort whilst he was in foreign parts. Quoth
she, “Thy wife hath a man-friend who passed every night with her
during thine absence.” Thereupon the husband went to his wife in a
violent rage and bashed her with a bashing severe enough to satisfy any
body.
Thewoman, suspecting that one of the slave-girls had been tattling
to the master, called them together and questioned them upon their
oaths, when all swore that they had kept the secret, but that the Parrot
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had not, adding, “And we heard her with our own ears.” Upon this the
woman bade one of the girls to set a hand-mill under the cage and
grind therewith and a second to sprinkle waterthrough the cage-roof
and a third to run about, right and left, dashing a mirror of bright steel
through the livelong night. Next morning when the husband returned
home after being entertained by one of his friends, he bade bring the
Parrot before him and asked what had taken place whilst he was away.
“Pardon me, O my master,” quoth the bird, “I could neither hear
nor see aught by reason ofthe exceeding murk and the thunder and
lightning which lasted throughout the night.” As it happened to be the
summer-tide the master was astounded and cried, “But we are now in
mid Tammúz,
and this is not the time for rains and storms.”
“Ay, by Allah,” rejoined the bird, “I saw with these eyes what my
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tongue hath told thee.” Upon this the man, not knowing the case nor
smoking theplot, waxed exceeding wroth; and, holding that his wife
had been wrongously accused, put forth his hand and pulling the
Parrot from her cage dashed her upon the ground with such force that
he killed her on the spot. Some days afterwards one of his slave-girls
confessed to him the whole truth, yet would he not believe it till he saw
the young Turk, his wife’s lover, coming out of herchamber, when he
bared his blade and slew him by a blow on the back of the neck; and
he did the same by the adulteress; and thus the twain, laden with
mortal sin, went straightways to Eternal Fire. Then the merchant knew
that the Parrot had told him the truth anent all she had seen and he
mourned grievously for her loss, when mourning availed him not.
The Minister, hearing the wordsof King Yunan, rejoined, “O
Monarch, high in dignity, and what harm have I done him, or what evil
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The Hebrew-Syrian month July used to express the height of summer.
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have I seen from him that I should compass his death? I would not do
this thing, save to serve thee, and soon shalt thou sight that it is right;
and if thou accept my advice thou shalt be saved, otherwise thoushalt
be destroyed even as a certain Wazir who acted treacherously by the
young Prince.”
Asked the King, “How was that?” and the Minister thus began the

Cuento del marido y el loro.
Un hombre y un comerciante de arranque se había casado con una esposa leal, una mujer
de perfecta belleza y la gracia, la simetría y la belleza, de la que estaba
mad-celoso, y que urdió con éxito para que no...