mer manner, and sang the spell. This
time also the garland ascended high above the tops of the trees into
the sunshine, and sank down on her head as at first. Jussuf must needs
try again, but he succeeded no better than before. Thereupon she again
threw it up, and caught it once more. After she had thus shown him
several times, she cried out, laughing mischievously,

"Well, hast thou not yet observed why thou failest? Why dost thou not
sing my little song when thou throwest up the garland? Try once more,
and sing the spell; then it will succeed better."

Jussuf did so. He threw the garland and sang the verse; and, behold,
the garland hovered in the sunshine, and descended in soft vibrations
on his head, crowning his turban.

"Dost thou see?" said the maiden, laughingly: "the spell is of very
great avail." She threw up the wreath again several times, and then
she took it, and exclaimed, "Now it is enough; but the game will be
tedious." She threw it up high, and sang:

"Flower-garland, raise thee high,
Float in sunshine brilliantly;
Lend thy varied hues, to shed
Light on the darksome forest-head."

The garland floated far out over the open space towards the edge of
the park; there it melted suddenly in the air, and the blossoms rained
down as it were on a dark cypress, and clung to it, so that it was
adorned at once with a number of splendid flowers. Jussuf saw this
with astonishment.

"Well," exclaimed he, "thou conjurest. How is it possible that a
cypress-tree should bear such beautiful blossoms?"

But she answered, "What is there to be wondered at? Who would make
such a commotion about a merry game? Come," continued she, "let us
play at ball." And jumping up, she picked a ripe pomegranate from a
neighbouring tree, placed herself at a tolerable distance from him at
a shrub, and threw him the apple for a ball. Jussuf had been very fond
of playing at ball in his younger days, and still possessed some
skill, so that he caught it.

"Well, indeed, well done," exclaimed she, as she caught it from
Jussuf, who had not thrown it quite straight, with the same ease as if
it had fallen from the hand of the ablest thrower.

They threw it in this way several times to each other, till at last
Jussuf let it fall.

"Oh!" cried she, "well done! whoever lets it fall, to him the
punishment is due." And when she had caught the pomegranate again, she
winked at him, and exclaimed, "Now come back, I will give you