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〃nor has it any value。 therefore take thy half of the treasure and
go from my city。〃
〃nay；〃 i answered； 〃but i will take nought but that leaden ring；
for i know what is written within it； and for what purpose。〃
and the emperor trembled； and besought me and said； 〃take all the
treasure and go from my city。 the half that is mine shall be thine
also。〃
and i did a strange thing； but what i did matters not； for in a
cave that is but a days journey from this place have； i hidden the
ring of riches。 it is but a days journey from this place； and it
waits for thy ing。 he who has this ring is richer than all the
kings of the world。 e therefore and take it； and the worlds
riches shall be thine。
but the young fisherman laughed。 love is better than riches； he
cried； and the little mermaid loves me。
nay； but there is nothing better than riches； said the soul。
love is better； answered the young fisherman； and he plunged into
the deep； and the soul went weeping away over the marshes。
and after the third year was over； the soul came down to the shore
of the sea； and called to the young fisherman； and he rose out of
the deep and said； why dost thou call to me？
and the soul answered； e nearer； that i may speak with thee；
for i have seen marvellous things。
so he came nearer； and couched in the shallow water； and leaned his
head upon his hand and listened。
and the soul said to him； in a city that i know of there is an inn
that standeth by a river。 i sat there with sailors who drank of
two different…coloured wines； and ate bread made of barley； and
little salt fish served in bay leaves with vinegar。 and as we sat
and made merry； there entered to us an old man bearing a leathern
carpet and a lute that had two horns of amber。 and when he had
laid out the carpet on the floor； he struck with a quill on the
wire strings of his lute； and a girl whose face was veiled ran in
and began to dance before us。 her face was veiled with a veil of
gauze； but her feet were naked。 naked were her feet； and they
moved over the carpet like little white pigeons。 never have i seen
anything so marvellous； and the city in which she dances is but a
days journey from this place。
now when the young fisherman heard the words of his soul； he
remembered that the little mermaid had no feet and could not dance。
and a great desire came over him； and he said to himself； it is
but a days journey； and i can return to my love； and he laughed；
and stood up in the shallow water； and strode towards the shore。
and when he had reached the dry shore he laughed again； and held
out his arms to his soul。 and his soul gave a great cry of joy and
ran to meet him； and entered into him； and the young fisherman saw
stretched before him upon the sand that shadow of the body that is
the body of the soul。
and his soul said to him； let us not tarry； but get hence at once；
for the sea…gods are jealous； and have monsters that do their
bidding。
so they made haste； and all that night they journeyed beneath the
moon； and all the next day they journeyed beneath the sun； and on
the evening of the day they came to a city。
and the young fisherman said to his soul； is this the city in
which she dances of whom thou didst speak to me？
and his soul answered him； it is not this city； but another。
nevertheless let us enter in。 so they entered in and passed
through the streets； and as they passed through the street of the
jewellers the young fisherman saw a fair silver cup set forth in a
booth。 and his soul said to him； take that silver cup and hide
it。
so he took the cup and hid it in the fold of his tunic； and they
went hurriedly out of the city。
and after that they had gone a league from the city； the young
fisherman frowned； and flung the cup away； and said to his soul；
why didst thou tell me to take this cup and hide it； for it was an
evil thing to do？
but his soul answered him； be at peace； be at peace。
and on the evening of the second day they came to a city； and the
young fisherman said to his soul； is this the city in which she
dances of whom thou didst speak to me？
and his soul answered him； it is not this city； but another。
nevertheless let us enter in。 so they entered in and passed
through the streets； and as they passed through the street of the
sellers of sandals； the young fisherman saw a child standing by a
jar of water。 and his soul said to him； smite that child。 so he
smote the child till it wept； and when he had done this they went
hurriedly out of the city。
and after that they had gone a league from the city the young
fisherman grew wroth； and said to his soul； why didst thou tell me
to smite the child； for it was an evil thing to do？
but his soul answered him； be at peace； be at peace。
and on the evening of the third day they came to a city； and the
young fisherman said to his soul； is this the city in which she
dances of whom thou didst speak to me？
and his soul answered him； it may be that it is in this city；
therefore let us enter in。
so they entered in and passed through the streets； but nowhere
could the young fisherman find the river or the inn that stood by
its side。 and the people of the city looked curiously at him； and
he grew afraid and said to his soul； let us go hence； for she who
dances with white feet is not here。
but his soul answered； nay； but let us tarry； for the night is
dark and there will be robbers on the way。
so he sat him down in the market…place and rested； and after a time
there went by a hooded merchant who had a cloak of cloth of
tartary； and bare a lantern of pierced horn at the end of a jointed
reed。 and the merchant said to him； why dost thou sit in the
market…place； seeing that the booths are closed and the bales
corded？
and the young fisherman answered him； i can find no inn in this
city； nor have i any kinsman who might give me shelter。
are we not all kinsmen？ said the merchant。 and did not one god
make us？ therefore e with me； for i have a guest…chamber。
so the young fisherman rose up and followed the merchant to his
house。 and when he had passed through a garden of pomegranates and
entered into the house； the merchant brought him rose…water in a
copper dish that he might wash his hands； and ripe melons that he
might quench his thirst； and set a bowl of rice and a piece of
roasted kid before him。
and after that he had finished； the merchant led him to the guest…
chamber； and bade him sleep and be at rest。 and the young
fisherman gave him thanks； and kissed the ring that was on his
hand； and flung himself down on the carpets of dyed goats…hair。
and when he had covered himself with a covering of black lambs…
wool he fell asleep。
and three hours before dawn； and while it was still night； his soul
waked him and said to him； rise up and go to the room of the
merchant； even to the room in which he sleepeth； and slay him； and
take from him his gold； for we have need of it。
and the young fisher