When Hatim found himself in the dragon’s belly, he remembered his Creator, and with pious resignation to his will, said, “This I have merited, polluted as I am with sins; it has been my wish to become one of the servants of God, but ah, helpless me! what avail my frail efforts!” Thus Hatim constantly kept in mind the beneficence of the Almighty, for whosoever puts his trust in God, and sincerely devotes his life and fortune to the accomplishing of what is acceptable unto the Almighty, him the Creator will never forsake when in calamity. Sometimes he trieth His servants even as He tried Job the prophet of Iram, who bore his sufferings with patience and resignation. In like manner it behoveth the true servants of the Almighty that in every calamity they remain patient and resigned.

For three days and nights Hatim thus continued in the loathsome belly of the dragon, where he would have speedily died were it not for a talismanic pearl which his wife, the bear’s daughter, had fixed in his turban previous to his departure. This pearl had a charm in it by which its possessor became secured against the bad effects of fire and poison, and hence the venom of the dragon had no effect on Hatim. In truth the bounteous Creator had in time provided him with an antidote, as it was his will that Hatim should live. Meanwhile the dragon, heartily wishing to be rid of Hatim, said to himself, “What trouble­some stuff have I swallowed here? I can never digest it, for it still lives and moves about within me.” It may be conceived that Hatim found little rest within the dragon’s belly; and as he was constantly endeavouring to stand up and walk about, the trampling of his feet upon the stomach of the monster so annoyed the latter that he coiled and reared in all directions.

At length, when he found that his food was really destructive and caused him such pain, he bore it no longer, and making a strong effort he vomited, and Hatim was once more thrown into the open air, where the dragon left him and fled into the wilderness. Hatim remained on the spot for some time till his clothes were dried by the sun, and then proceeded on his way till, after traversing the sandy desert, he arrived exhausted with hunger and thirst on the banks of a river. Here he began to wash both him­self and his clothes, when he observed a large fish playing near him. Hatim was congratulating himself on his provi­dential supply of food when the fish, of which the half was a human form of extreme beauty, being in fact the mer­maid, approached, and seizing him by the hand, instantly drew him into the river. Hatim struggled hard to keep his ground, but his strength was of no avail; the fish hurried him through the deep, and thus conveyed him into her place of residence. Here he found himself in a splendid apartment seated on a superb couch, and the mermaid endeavouring by every sort of contrivance to reconcile him to his captivity.

For seven nights and days Hatim remained the dejected captive of this monster of the deep. At last becoming desperate, he said, “I have travelled thus far on business the most urgent, leaving my home and kindred; why then dost thou urge me to become an inmate of this thy abode? My sadness will never allow me to be an agreeable com­panion. I pray thee then to conduct me to that place whence I have been forcibly dragged.” To this the mermaid replied, “Oh, Hatim! stay with me three days longer, and I will consent to thy release.” When the three* days had elapsed, Hatim reminded the mermaid of her promise, to which she replied, “Every thing which tends to thy welfare shall be accomplished, yet remain a few days more.” Hatim said, “Remember thy promise, for to stay a moment longer is to me impossible.” The mermaid finding Hatim resolute, at last took him by the hand, and in an instant conveyed him to the spot from which she had taken him, and as a last effort said, “Oh, Hatim! is it really your intention to part with me?” “My duty,” said Hatim, “is urgent, and nothing shall make me shrink from it.” When Hatim gave this decisive answer, the mermaid vanished. He then finished the washing of his clothes, in which he had been previously interrupted, and after drying them in the sun, he dressed himself, and once more set out.

After he had journeyed for some days he approached a mountain, the top of which was covered with trees in beautiful clusters. Having ascended, he entered these groves, which were lined with elegant couches, and through which flowed rivulets of pure water. The cool zephyr wafting its fragrance through trees rendered the situation refreshing to the soul. Hatim reclined on one of the couches, and soon fell asleep. Meanwhile the proprie­tor of the place passing by, was surprised on beholding a youth of graceful mien there asleep. He sat down beside him and shortly after Hatim, refreshed by sleep, sat up, and seeing a stranger seated by him, he respectfully saluted him. The other, in courteous terms, returned his salutation, and said, “Whence came you, and whither are you going? Pray tell me, what are your motives for traversing this dreary waste?” Hatim replied, “I am on my way to the desert of Hãwaïda.” The stranger, on hearing this, said, “How came you to adopt so mad a resolution? Has none of your friends been kind enough to prevent your jour­ney?” “Such,” said Hatim, “is my sincere intention; and placing my reliance on God, I have undertaken this task, and have proceeded thus far on my way. A prince, by name Munīr Shamī, has fallen desperately in love with Husn Banu, the daughter of Burzakh the merchant. The lady asked of the prince seven questions, the solution of which is beyond his power. Weeping in the agonies of despair, he quitted the haunts of men and turned his face to the mountains and deserts, where I chanced to meet with him. I inquired into the cause of his distress, and learned from him his heart-melting tale. It came into my mind, that to question the distressed as to his circum­stances, and than not to make an effort to relieve him, would be a line of conduct unbecoming a man. For this reason, Sir, I have endeavoured to do my best in his cause.”

The stranger then said, “Assuredly you must be HATIM himself; for with the exception of Hatim, there is not a man alive who would have acted in such a manner. Generous Hatim! God is beneficent, and to you will render the task easy; but remember, that hitherto no one has returned in safety from the desert of Hawaïda, and the few who have thence retraced their steps became distracted in mind and lost to the world; however, since you do go, give ear to my advice. The instant you approach the desert of Hawaïda, they will assail you with enchantment, against which your power and strength will be of no avail. Around you will gather damsels of surpassing beauty, and among these will be a nymph heart-ravishing, of graceful form, with waving tresses, resplendent as the full moon; the moment you behold her your heart will be beyond your control, but you must remain firm of mind and not give way. Should you then resolve to advance, you have merely to take this fair damsel by the hand, and in an instant you will find yourself in the desert of Hawaïda. Now, Hatim! if you do not follow my advice, you will have cause to repent of it till your dying hour.”

When he had done speaking, a man advanced to the couch on which they sat with a table in his hands, and having fixed it before them, he covered it with cloth and presented them with water to wash their hands. He then laid upon the table a large bowl full of milk and rice, and two flaggons full of pure water the most delicious that Hatim had ever tasted. Having rested there during the night, Hatim next morning took leave of his host and departed. After journeying for some days, he arrived on the shore of a lake surrounded with shady trees and brim­full of clear water. When he was wrapt in admiration of this scene, a nymph of more than mortal beauty naked from head to foot gracefully arose from the water. Hatim dazzled with her splendour, covered his eyes, and the nymph seiz­ing him by the hand hurried him into the deep. Hatim found himself for some time sinking rapidly, till at last his feet rested on firm ground. He then opened his eyes, and to his astonishment beheld around him a most beautiful and extensive garden. Here the nymph of the lake shortly after quitted her hold of his hand, and vanished from his sight. Hatim walked a considerable way through the garden, when, lo! thousands of beautiful women approached him from every quarter, each of whom assailed him with her attractions, and endeavoured to pierce his heart with the arrows of her amorous glances.