Monday, September 23, 2019

Reading Notes: Persian Tales, Part B

(The Traveling Merchant. Source)


  • Every morning a baker would throw his bad bread that got burnt and spoiled to the fishes
  • A traveling merchant offered to hire the baker
    • Wouldn't have to do any work for first 40 days
    • Only has to do 2 hours of work on 40th day
    • Didn't ask the merchant what he would be doing
  • Merchant led the baker to a different place with mules and loading bags
    • Killed a cow, skinned it, and put the skin and meat on the mules
  • When they got to the base of a mountain, merchant lit a fire, got out the cow skin, and asked the baker to get inside it to see how much it could hold
  • Merchant tightened up the skin and threw meat into the fire
  • A talon came and carried the baker in the skin to the top of the mountain
    • Talon pecked at the skin until baker fell out of it
    • Talon then flew away
  • Baker threw jewels down to the Merchant in hopes of getting down from the mountain
  • Baker can either die on top of mountain or jump in the river and drown
  • Baker jumps in the river
    • Fish that he used to feed form a raft around him and he floats to safety
  • 1 year later, baker sees the merchant again and disguises himself
  • Baker offers to work for the merchant
  • Merchant tries the same trick on him again
  • Baker asks merchant how to put on the cow skin
    • Merchant puts it on to show him
  • Baker ties up the skin and Talon takes him away
  • Merchant throws down the jewels and asks where the road to escape is
    • Baker informs him there is no road, he can either jump in the river or stay at the top and die
  • Merchant jumps in the river and drowns

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