Abu Muhammed Hight Lazybones

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Arabian Nights Entertainments, Burton translation, 1954, Henry Torrens, Edward Lane & John Payne

Arthur Szyk

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Thousand and one Nights in three Volumes, Edward Willimas Lane, John Murray, 1859, Illustrated by engravings on wood from designs by William Harben, Edited by Edward Stanley Poole

     After the death of his father, Abu Muhammad Lazybones has left nothing and he was so lazy that his mother would bring him food and water just so he wouldn't die. One day she gave him some silver and told him to give it to the merchant leaving for China so he may make a purchase of something that Abu could profit from. The merchant ship sailed to an island where he sees a man seated with many apes among them one who's hair had been plucked off. The plucked ape was constantly abused by the other apes so the merchant offered to purchase it and the man agreed. They left that island and traveled to another where divers were diving for pearls and gems. When the plucked ape saw this he jumped in the water and returned with riches. On the next island, they were taken prisoner and tied up awaiting death. The plucked ape released the merchant and the sailors after each pledging to give it 1000 dinars for freeing them. They returned to their ship and sailed away whereas each paid the monkey. Every day  the ape brings Abu Muhammad Lazybones a bag of 1000 dinars and one day he speaks to Abu telling him that he is actually a Jinn who had come to him due to his poor state. He requests that Lazybones help him to marry which Lazybones does only to find out that the Jinn had tricked him swooping in and kidnapping the girl. 

Abu Muhammed Hight Lazybones