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"When first I heard about your being invited to dinner at Sindbad's and listening to his first tale, it seemed the very nicest thing in the world.
It is certain that he regarded the ancient land of the Caesars as a possible El Dorado; and, curiously enough, he came back this time, if not with Sindbad's diamonds, yet with some prospect of becoming a Silver King.
The porter, who had heard of Sindbad's riches, could not but envy a man whose condition he thought to be as happy as his own was deplorable; and his mind being fretted with these reflections, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and says, loud enough to be heard, Almighty Creator of all things, consider the difference between Sindbad and me.
The Chief Ranger's fingers still moved about Sindbad's jaw and throat soothingly, but his tone was chill, the coldest thing in the cramped space of the mess cabin. "Yes, a highly developed form of it," Tau agreed. "More highly developed perhaps than even you can believe, Medic!" That came in a hiss of cold rage.
Sindbad's roc was just a legend of 'em. But when did they find these bones?" "Three or four years ago '91, I fancy. Why?" "Why? Because I found them Lord! it's nearly twenty years ago. If Dawson's hadn't been silly about that salary they might have made a perfect ring in 'em... I couldn't help the infernal boat going adrift." He paused. "I suppose it's the same place.
The sea seemed to have lost its fluidity, and become vitreous; so much so, that it was difficult to believe that the waves which splintered across the Excelsior's bow did not fall upon her deck with the ring of shattered glass. "Sindbad's Valley of Diamonds!" said the young girl, in an awed whisper.
Zeno proclaimed the One-eyed an enemy to the Empire; and ended by reinstating him in his old honours, and taking them from the Amal. He had broken with the Romans at last. The Roman was astride of him, and of all Teutons, like Sindbad's old man of the sea. The only question, as with Sindbad, was whether he should get drunk, and give them a chance of throwing the perfidious tyrant.
"Yes; it's just like a four-legged bird," shouted another. "That's right. They've caught Sindbad's roc and clipped his wings." "Cut them right off," said Glyn laughingly, joining in the mirth. "Poor fellow, look how he's moulting!" There was a burst of laughter at this, and as it ceased another boy shouted: "Ought its hump to wobble like that, and hang over all on one side?"
In "Sayf al Muluk," we make the acquaintance of that very singular jinni whose soul is outside his body, and meet again with Sindbad's facetious acquaintance, "The Old Man of the Sea." "Hasan of Bassorah" is woven as it were out of the strands of the rainbow. Burton is here at his happiest as a translator, and the beautiful words that he uses comport with the tale and glitter like jewels.
Casting his eyes up to the sky he exclaimed aloud: "Consider, Mighty Creator of all things, the difference between Sindbad's life and mine. Every day I suffer a thousand hardships and misfortunes, and have hard work to get even enough bad barley bread to keep myself and my family alive, while the lucky Sindbad spends money right and left and lives upon the fat of the land!
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