“How well it was said，” answered the fisherman， “that Swords can be kept off with shields but the Eye of Wisdom pierces through every defence！ Know then， O my formidable guest， that because of my extreme poverty I have never married and have no child. But in that same year in which the Tisroc （may he live for ever） began his august and beneficent reign， on a night when the moon was at her full， it pleased the gods to deprive me of my sleep. Therefore I arose from my bed in this hovel and went forth to the beach to refresh myself with looking upon the water and the moon and breathing the cool air. And presently I heard a noise as of oars coming to me across the water and then， as it were， a weak cry. And shortly after， the tide brought to the land a little boat in which there was nothing but a man lean with extreme hunger and thirst who seemed to have died but a few moments before （for he was still warm）， and an empty water.skin， and a child， still living. ‘Doubtless，’ said I， ‘these unfortunates have escaped from the wreck of a great ship， but by the admirable designs of the gods， the elder has starved himself to keep the child alive and has perished in sight of land.’ Accordingly， remembering how the gods never fail to reward those whobefriend the destitute， and being moved by compassion （for your servant is a man of tender heart）.”
