(Then) the third prisoner said to King (Bahrām), You who have over all entire control,

I was a merchant (travelling) by sea, and gained my living by sea-journeyings.

Sometimes I went to places on the sea*¹⁹³⁶, and found great profit in such (enterprise).

When by (acquiring) knowledge I could tell wherein good sea-pearls differed from the bad,

I gained possession of some (preeious) pearls, in lustre and in colour like dawn’s lamp*¹⁹³⁷.

Full of expectance to the town I came, with eyes the brighter for that string of pearls.

I had a mind to sell the string of pearls, and with the price buy food and also dress.

When the king’s minister had heard the news,—that a fine string of pearls belonged to me,

He summoned (me) and bought (them), and through awe, I in appraising was most moderate*¹⁹³⁸.

(Then) when the time arrived to pay the price, all kinds of vain excuses he began.

With trouble and distress I sought the price; he offered naught but vain and idle pleas.

A few days, good or evil, (passed away*¹⁹³⁹, whilst) he heaped wile on wile, I still in hope.

(Then) finally he hid me out of sight, putting me into jail with murderers.

He made a pretext of some (fancied) crime, and by the pretext kept, himself, the price.

(So) for my string of pearls which he had taken, he bound my hands and feet (in jail) with bonds.

He getting hold of (lustrous) pearls from me; I at his hands in torture left to stones*¹⁹⁴⁰.

He putting pearls into his turban-folds; I, shell-like, at the bottom of a pit*¹⁹⁴¹.

From the bad-natured vazīr’s store the king gave him some pearls, with gold and ornaments.