Songs for September

The Caterpillar

Sinbad the Sailor

My father was a rich merchant of Persia and left me a fortune, which I quickly spent. I soon grew tired of an idle life, and my love for adventure made me take to the sea. I joined a company of merchants, and we fitted out a sailing vessel. We went from island to island buying and selling goods.

One day we landed on an island covered with trees, but we could see neither man nor beast. We walked about picking fruit and eating it. At last, growing tired, I sat down under a tree and fell asleep. I cannot tell how long I slept, but when I awoke the ship was gone.

I rushed to and fro and cried in my despair. I climbed a tall tree and gazed toward the sea, but I could see nothing except sky and water. Then I turned toward the land and, in the distance, I saw a large white object.

I came down from the tree and set off for it as fast as I could. It was a great white ball, as smooth as ivory, and seemed fifty paces around. I went to the other side to see if there were an opening, but I found none.

All of a sudden the sky became dark, as if covered by a thick cloud. I looked up and saw a large bird flying toward me. I had heard sailors speak of a large bird called the roc. I crept close to the large white ball. The bird settled upon it and covered it with her wings. I now knew the ball was a roc's egg. Before me was one of the legs of the bird, which was as large as the trunk of a tree. I took off my turban and tied myself fast to the leg. I hoped the bird would carry me from this lonely island.

The next morning the bird flew off. It carried me so high that I could not see the earth. Then it came down so fast that I lost my senses. When I opened my eyes, I was in a deep valley surrounded by high mountains which reached into the clouds.

The mountains were so steep and rocky that I could not climb them. The valley was covered with dazzling diamonds of great size. I wandered about all day hunting a way to escape. When night came, I crept into a small cave and blocked the entrance with stones.

The next day something fell on the ground beside me. I looked and saw a large piece of raw meat. Then several more pieces rolled over the cliff. I soon understood this. Some merchants were throwing the meat from the rocks above. This fell upon the sharp points of the diamonds, which stuck into it. Then, when the rocs carried the meat to their nests on the cliff, the merchants frightened them away and picked the diamonds from the meat. I watched this a little while. Then I thought of a way of escape.

I filled my wallet with the largest diamonds. Then I tied a large piece of meat to my back and lay down upon my face. I soon heard the flapping of wings, and a roc caught me up with the meat and carried me to his nest.

The merchants rushed to get the diamonds. They were much surprised to find me. I told them my story, showed them my diamonds, and gave them each one.

I stayed with the merchants till they were ready to go home. Then we traveled many days across high mountains until we came to the sea, where we set sail. At last we reached Persia, and I settled down to enjoy my riches.