The Fowler, the Parrot, and her Young Ones
The parrot replied, "On your account, because I know not what kind of lover yours is – whether he will be faithful to you or not, and act like the parrot of King Kamrew."
Khojisteh asked, "What is the nature of the story of King Kamrew's parrot?"
The parrot began relating the story:
Once on a time a fowler threw a net over the nest of a parrot and imprisoned therein the parrot together with her young.
The parrot said to her nestlings, "The best way will be for you to feign yourselves dead, when the fowler, seeing you in that state, will fling you out of the net — and if he carries away me only, it will be of no consequence because, if I preserve my life, I can contrive some means to get to you."
The young ones did as they were directed. The fowler, supposing them dead, flung them all out of the nest; they instantly took flight and settled on the branch of a tree.
The fowler, enraged, was going to dash the parrot on the ground.
The parrot said to the fowler, "Set your mind at rest; I will obtain you such a price for myself that you shall need nothing farther during the remainder of your life, for I am a physician and perfectly skilled in the profession."
The fowler was delighted at hearing these words and said to the parrot, "Roy Kamrew, who is king of my country, has long laboured under a grievous disease; will you be able to relieve him from it?"
The parrot said to the fowler, "What mighty business is this? I am such a physician that I can cure ten thousand patients; carry me before the king, acquaint him with my skill, and then sell me at a high price."
The fowler put her in a cage and, having carried her to Roy Kamrew, said, "I have brought this parrot who is proficient in the art of physic."
The king said, "I am myself in great want of a skilful doctor; mention the price of this bird."
The fowler replied, "Ten thousand dinars."
Roy Kamrew instantly purchased the parrot by paying the fowler ten thousand dinars.
The next day the parrot began administering medicine to the king. His disorder was half cured when the parrot said to him, "As my medicine has removed the moiety of your complaint, shew me attention and kindness by taking me out of the cage in order that 1 may explore a medicine which will liberate you from all care."
The king, believing these words to be true, took her out of the cage.
The parrot immediately flew away and never returned to the king.
When the parrot had finished this tale, he addressed himself to Khojisteh, saying, "I am afraid, my lady, lest your lover should act treacherously by you, like the parrot of Roy Kamrew, and this is the cause of my pensiveness. Hasten now to your sweetheart, but place no reliance on him till you have tried him."
After that, Khojisteh wanted to have gone to her gallant; the morning cock crowed and, the dawn appearing, her departure was deferred.
(600 words)
