n first stops to warn the merchant that he is in a place of demons and devils.(940) That man is then in danger himself when he stays to witness the conclusion of the encounter between the merchant and the Jinn. The second and third men, when they hear the tale of the merchant, also stay to find out what the Jinn will do when he emerges. When the Jinn does appear, all of the men, with no assurance of reward, stay to support the merchant and in turn tell their own stories of woe. As each relates his story they not only share the pain of the merchant but also inevitably facilitate in saving his life.The individual stories of each man also hold certain morals. The first mans story of his wife, mistress and son exposes the evils of jealousy. Although his wife is taken care of and loved she becomes jealous of her husbands mistress and son. She turns the mistress into a cow and the son into a bull and sends them out to the pasture with the other cattle. The wife then lies to her husband about their disappearance. When it is time for the Great Feast of Immolation (941) his mistress in her guise of a cow is brought forth for the sacrifice. The man is unknowingly reluctant but his wife forces the butcher. When his wife is found out she is punished by being transformed herself into a deer. All of her treacherous actions reveal her jealousy and the extent of what she must to do cover it up.The second mans story illustrates the moral of forgiveness. He tells of how his brothers were scoundrels and though they misused all of their wealth, the man helped them without reproach. When the brothers become envious of the mans life they conspire to kill him and his new wife. However, the wife of this man is a Jinn herself and vows to kill the brothers for there corrupt acts. The man, on the other hand, refuses her and forgives his brothers. He does this with the words Be kind to those who harm you.(946) The brothers are transformed into dogs ...
