, "How foolish it is to afflict
yourself in this way! Do I not seriously tell you, that if I were to
yield to your foolish importunities, it would cost me my life?"

"Whatever happens rests with Allah," said she; "but I shall not alter
my mind."

"I see very plainly," answered the merchant, "it it not possible to
make you submit to reason, and that your obstinacy will kill you."

He then sent for the parents and other relations of his wife; when
they were all assembled, he explained to them his motives for calling
them together, and requested them to use all their influence with his
wife, and endeavor to convince her of the folly of her conduct. She
rejected them all, and said she had rather die than give up this
point to her husband. When her children saw that nothing could alter
her resolution, they began to lament most bitterly--the merchant
himself knew not what to do.

A little while afterward he was sitting by chance at the door of his
house, considering whether he should not even sacrifice himself in
order to save his wife, whom he so tenderly loved, when he saw his
favorite dog run up to the cock in the farmyard, and tell him all the
circumstances of the painful situation in which he was placed. Upon
which the cock said, "How foolish must our master be. He has but one
wife, and cannot gain his point, while I have fifty, and do just as I
please. Let him take a good-sized stick, and not scruple to use it,
and she will soon know better, and not worry him to reveal what he
ought to keep secret."

The merchant at once did as he suggested, on which his wife quickly
repented of her ill-timed curiosity, and all her family came in,
heartily glad at finding her more rational and submissive to her
husband.

* * * * *

"You deserve, my daughter," added the grand vizier, "to be treated
like the merchant's wife."

"Do not, sir," answered Schehera-zade, "think ill of me if I still
persist in my sentiments. The history of this woman does not shake my
resolution. I could recount, on the other hand, many good reasons
which ought to persuade you not to oppose my design. Pardon me, too,
if I add that your opposition will be useless; for if your paternal
tenderness should refuse the request I make, I will present myself to
the sultan."

At length the vizier, overcome by his daughter's firmness, yielded to
her entreaties; and although he was very sorry at not being able to
conquer her resol