English Original
Great prince of the genii, you must know that we are three brothers—these two black dogs and myself. Our father died, leaving us each a thousand sequins. With this sum, we all three became merchants.
After opening our shops, my eldest brother (one of these dogs) resolved to travel for trade. He sold all he had, bought goods, and was away a year. He returned as a beggar. I recognized him, brought him home, and cared for him. I had doubled my capital to two thousand sequins, so I gave him half, and we lived together.
Later, my second brother also wished to travel. Despite our dissuasion, he joined a caravan. He returned a year later in the same wretched state. I gave him a thousand sequins from my savings, and he reopened his shop.
Years later, my brothers proposed we journey together to trade. I refused at first, asking, "You traveled; what did you gain?" They persisted for five years until I relented. However, when preparing, they had spent the money I had given them. Without reproach, I divided my six thousand sequins: I gave each brother a thousand, kept one for myself, and buried three thousand at home.
We bought goods, loaded a vessel, and set sail. After two months, we reached a seaport, traded successfully, and were about to depart when a beautiful, poorly dressed woman approached me on the shore. She implored me to marry her and take her aboard. After much begging and promising to be a good wife, I consented. I bought her fine dresses, we married, and embarked.
During the voyage, I discovered my wife's many good qualities and grew to love her deeply. My brothers, jealous of my prosperity, plotted against my life. One night, they threw my wife and me into the sea. My wife, however, was a fairy. She saved me from drowning and transported us to an island.
At dawn, she revealed, "When I saw you on the shore, I took a fancy to you and wished to test your nature, so I disguised myself. I have rewarded you by saving your life. But I am furious with your brothers and will not rest until I take their lives."
I thanked her but begged her to spare my brothers. I appeased her wrath, and she instantly transported me to the roof of my house before vanishing. I went down, opened the doors, and retrieved the three thousand sequins I had buried. I reopened my shop and received congratulations from fellow merchants on my return.
At home, two black dogs with sorrowful faces came to meet me. I was astonished, but the fairy reappeared and said, "Do not be surprised; they are your two brothers. I have condemned them to remain in these shapes for ten years." She then told me where I could hear news of her and vanished.
The ten years are nearly passed, and I am on the road to find her. While traveling, I met this merchant and the old man with the hind, so I stayed with them.
This is my history, O prince of genii! Do you not think it a most marvelous one?
"Yes, indeed," replied the genius, "and I will give up to you the third of this merchant's punishment."
中文翻译
伟大的精灵王子，您必须知道，我们是三兄弟——这两只黑狗和我自己。我们的父亲去世了，留给我们每人一千枚金币。用这笔钱，我们三人都成了商人。
开店后不久，我的大哥（这两只狗之一）决定外出经商。他变卖了所有财产，购买了货物，离开了一年。他回来时已沦为乞丐。我认出了他，带他回家并悉心照料。当时我的资本已翻倍至两千枚金币，于是我分给他一半，我们像以前一样生活在一起。
后来，我的二哥也想外出旅行。尽管我们极力劝阻，他还是加入了一个商队。一年后，他同样落魄地回来了。我从积蓄中给了他一千枚金币，他重新开了店。
几年后，我的兄弟们提议我们一起旅行经商。起初我拒绝了，问道：“你们旅行过，得到了什么？”他们坚持了五年，我终于让步了。然而，准备行程时，他们发现已经花光了我之前给他们的钱。我没有责备他们。我将自己的六千枚金币进行了分配：给每个兄弟一千枚，自己留一千枚，并将另外三千枚埋在家里。
我们购买了货物，装满了船，顺风起航。航行两个月后，我们抵达一个海港，成功进行了贸易。当我们准备再次起航时，我在岸边被一位美丽但衣着褴褛的女子拦住。她恳求我娶她并带她上船。起初我拒绝了，但她苦苦哀求，承诺会成为一个好妻子，最终我同意了。我为她买了漂亮的衣服，我们结了婚，然后登船启航。
在航行中，我发现了妻子许多美好的品质，并越来越爱她。我的兄弟们嫉妒我的好运，开始密谋害我。一天晚上，趁我们熟睡时，他们将我和妻子扔进了海里。然而，我的妻子是一位仙女。她没有让我淹死，而是将我们带到了一个岛上。
天亮时，她告诉我：“当我在海岸上看到你时，就喜欢上了你，并想考验你的品性，所以我伪装成你看到的样子。我救了你的命作为回报。但我对你的兄弟们非常愤怒，不取他们性命我决不罢休。”
我感谢她所做的一切，但恳求她不要杀死我的兄弟们。我平息了她的怒火，她瞬间将我送回了自家屋顶，随后便消失了。我下来打开门，挖出了埋藏的三千枚金币。我重新开了店，商友们祝贺我归来。
回到家时，两只面带哀伤的黑狗前来迎接我。我非常惊讶，但仙女再次出现，说道：“不要惊讶；他们是你的两个兄弟。我已判罚他们以这种形态存在十年。”然后她告诉我可以在哪里听到她的消息，便消失了。
十年之期将近，我正在寻找她的路上。途中，我遇到了这位商人和带着母鹿的老人，便与他们同行。
这就是我的经历，精灵王子啊！您不认为这是一个非常奇妙的故事吗？
“确实如此，”精灵回答道，“我将为你免除这位商人三分之一的惩罚。”