akorn - Mighty Old Tales Retold

The 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...

King Sindibad and His Falcon

It is said (but Allah is all knowing!) that there was a King of the Kings of Fars, who was fond of pleasuring and diversion, especially coursing and hunting. He had reared a falcon which he carried all night on his fist, and whenever he went a chasing he took with him this bird...

The Tale of the Wazir and the Sage Duban

...a King called Yunan reigned over the city of Fars of the land of the Roum. He was a powerful and wealthy ruler who had armies and guards and allies of all nations of men; but his body was afflicted with a leprosy which leaches and men of science failed to heal.

The Tale of the Fisherman and the Jinni

There was a fisherman well stricken in years who had a wife and three children, and withal was of poor condition. Now it was his custom to cast his net every day four times, and no more.

The Third Shaykh's Story

Know old Sultan and head of the Jann, that this mule was my wife. Now it so happened that I went forth and was absent one whole year; and when I returned from my journey I came to her by night, and saw a black slave lying with her on the carpet bed...

The Second Shaykh's Story

Know, O Lord of the Kings of the Jann! that these two dogs are my brothers and I am the third. Now when our father died and left us a capital of three thousand gold pieces, I opened a shop with my share, and bought and sold therein, and in like guise did my two brothers...

The First Shaykh's Story

Know O Jinni! that this gazelle is the daughter of my paternal uncle, my own flesh and blood, and I married her when she was a young maid, and I lived with her well nigh thirty years, yet was I not blessed with issue by her. So I took me a concubine...

The Tale of the Trader With the Jinni

There was a merchant of the merchants who had much wealth, and business in various cities. Now on a day he mounted horse and went forth to recover monies in certain towns...

Legend 10 - The Hazel Branch

One afternoon the Christ child had laid himself in his cradle and had fallen asleep. Then his mother came to him, looked at him full of gladness, and said, "...I will go into the wood and fetch you a handful of strawberries..."

Legend 9 - The Heavenly Wedding

A poor peasant by one day heard the priest say in church that whoever desired to enter into the kingdom of heaven must always go straight onward. So he set out and walked continually straight onwards over hill and valley without ever turning aside.