English Original
That night, the fisherman returned to the lake, cast his nets, and drew in four more fish, each of a different color. He promptly delivered them to the Grand Vizier as promised.
The Vizier took the fish to the kitchen and, with the cook, began to prepare them as before. Just as she was about to turn them over, the wall opened. The same maiden appeared, spoke the same words to the fish, received the same reply, then overturned the pan and vanished.
Filled with astonishment, the Grand Vizier reported the event to the Sultan. The Sultan, equally astounded, wished to witness the marvel himself. He summoned the fisherman and ordered him to procure four more fish. Granted three days, the fisherman succeeded and was rewarded with four hundred gold pieces.
The Sultan had the fish brought to his chamber with cooking utensils. He and the Grand Vizier shut themselves in to cook the fish. When they turned the fish over, the wall opened. This time, a gigantic black slave emerged carrying a large green stick. In a terrible voice, he touched the fish and demanded, "Fish, fish, are you doing your duty?"
The fish lifted their heads and replied, "Yes, yes. If you reckon, we reckon. If you pay your debts, we pay ours. If you fly, we conquer, and are content." The slave then overturned the pan, turning the fish to cinders, and stepped back into the wall, which closed behind him.
"I cannot rest after seeing this," declared the Sultan. "These fish signify a mystery I must solve." He questioned the fisherman about the fish's origin. "Sire," the fisherman answered, "from a lake amidst four hills beyond those mountains."
Neither the Sultan nor the Vizier knew of this lake. As it was only three hours' journey, the Sultan ordered his entire court to ride there, led by the fisherman. They crossed the mountain and found the clear lake, teeming with the four colored fish. The Sultan camped by the shore.
That night, the Sultan resolved to investigate alone. He instructed his Vizier to cover his absence, then set forth in disguise. At sunrise, he beheld a magnificent palace of polished black marble. He entered the half-open gate and passed through lavish, empty halls adorned with silk carpets, Meccan tapestries, and golden hangings. A splendid fountain with golden lions spewed diamonds and pearls, and the palace was surrounded by exquisite gardens.
Still seeing no one, the Sultan finally heard a plaintive cry: "Oh that I could die, for I am too unhappy to live!" He found a handsome, richly dressed young man sitting on a raised throne, his face filled with sorrow.
The Sultan approached and bowed. The young man bent his head low but did not rise. "Sire," he said, "I cannot rise to show the reverence your rank deserves."
"Sir," replied the Sultan, "I am sure you have good reason. Hearing your distress, I have come to offer help. Whose palace is this, and why is it empty?"
Instead of answering, the young man lifted his robe, revealing that from the waist down, his body was a block of black marble.
Horrified, the Sultan begged to hear his story. "Willingly," said the young man, "I will tell you my sad history."
中文翻译
当晚，渔夫回到湖边撒网，又捞上来四条颜色各异的鱼。他如约将鱼立刻交给了维齐尔。
维齐尔带着鱼进了厨房，和厨师像前一天一样开始烹制。就在厨师要给鱼翻面时，墙壁打开了。同样的少女出现，对鱼说了同样的话，得到了同样的回答，然后掀翻煎锅消失了。
维齐尔满心惊奇，将此事禀告了苏丹。苏丹同样震惊，想亲眼看看这个奇迹。他召来渔夫，命他再弄四条鱼来。渔夫请求宽限三日并获得准许，之后他成功从湖中捕到四条彩鱼，再次获得了四百金币的赏赐。
苏丹命人将鱼和炊具送到他的房间。他和维齐尔关起门来烹鱼。当他们给鱼翻面时，墙壁打开了。这次，一个身材巨大的黑奴走了出来，手持一根绿色大棒。他用可怕的声音触碰着鱼，质问道：“鱼啊鱼啊，你们在尽职吗？”
鱼儿抬起头回答：“是的，是的。你若清算，我们便清算。你若还债，我们便还债。你若逃跑，我们便征服，并心满意足。”随后，黑奴掀翻煎锅，将鱼化为灰烬，然后退入墙壁，墙壁随之闭合。
“目睹此事后，我无法安息，”苏丹宣称，“这些鱼意味着一个我必须解开的谜团。”他询问渔夫鱼的来历。“陛下，”渔夫答道，“来自那边群山之外、四山环绕的一个湖。”
苏丹和维齐尔都不知道这个湖。由于路程仅三小时，苏丹下令全体随从骑马前往，由渔夫引路。他们翻过山，看到了渔夫描述的那个清澈湖泊，里面游动着四种颜色的鱼。苏丹下令在湖边扎营。
入夜，苏丹决定独自调查。他吩咐维齐尔在他离开期间代为掩饰，随后便乔装出发。日出时分，他望见远处有一座宏伟的宫殿，由光亮的黑色大理石建成。他走进半开的大门，穿过华丽却空无一人的厅堂，里面装饰着丝绸地毯、麦加挂毯和金线银线的印度帷幔。一个由金狮支撑的喷泉喷出钻石和珍珠，宫殿三面环绕着精美的花园。
仍然不见人影，苏丹终于听到一声哀叹：“唉，但愿我能死去，我太不幸了，不想再活了！”他发现一个衣着华贵的英俊青年坐在略高于地面的宝座上，满面愁容。
苏丹上前鞠躬。年轻人深深低下头，但没有起身。“陛下，”他说，“我无法起身向您表达应有的敬意。”
“先生，”苏丹回答，“我相信你必有缘由。听到你的悲叹，我特来相助。这是谁的宫殿？为何空无一人？”
年轻人没有回答，而是撩起衣袍，向苏丹展示他的腰部以下已变成了一块黑色大理石。
苏丹惊骇不已，恳求年轻人讲述他的故事。“乐意之至，”年轻人说，“我将告诉你我悲惨的往事。”