The caliph, however, thought he should like to know the contents of the manuscript, and asked the vizier if he knew any body who could decipher it. "Most gracious sovereign and master," answered he, "there is a man at the great mosque, who is called Selim the Learned; he understands all languages; send for him; perhaps he may make out these mysterious characters."
The learned Selim was soon brought. "Selim," said the caliph to him, "they say you are very learned; now just look into this manuscript, and see whether you can read it; if you can, I will give you a new dress; but if you cannot, you shall have twelve boxes on the ear, and twenty-five blows on the soles of your feet, for having been called, without reason, Selim the Learned."
Selim bowed and said, "Be it as you command, Sir!" He examined the writing for a long time, and then suddenly cried out, "This is Latin, sir, or I'll give you leave to hang me." "Let us hear what it contains, then, if it is Latin," said the caliph.
Selim began to translate: "O man who findest this, praise Allah for his goodness. Whoever snuffs up some of the powder in this box, and at the same time says, 'Mutabor,' may change himself into any animal, and will understand the language of animals. If he wishes to return to the human shape, let him bow three times towards the East, and pronounce the same word. But let him take care, after he is transformed, not to laugh, otherwise the word will disappear entirely from his memory, and he will remain a beast."
When Selim the Learned had read this, the caliph was exceedingly delighted. He made Selim swear never to reveal any thing of the secret to any one; then he gave him a beautiful robe, and dismissed him.
Then he said to his grand vizier, "That is what I call a good bargain, Mansor! How impatient I am to become a beast! Come to me easily to-morrow morning, and we will go out into the fields, snuff up a little of the powder, and then listen to what is said in the air and in the water, in the woods and in the fields!"
Scarcely had the caliph breakfasted and dressed, the next morning, when the grand vizier appeared, according to his orders, to accompany him in his excursion. The caliph stuck the box with the magic powder into his girdle, and having commanded his retinue to remain behind, he set off with only the grand vizier, on his way. They went first through the spacious gardens of the caliph, but they could not find any living animal to try their experiment upon. At last, the vizier proposed to go out to a pond, where he had often seen many animals, particularly storks, which had attracted his attention by their grave demeanor and their chattering.
The caliph approved of the vizier's proposal, and went with him towards the pond. When they got there, they saw a stork, walking gravely back and forth, searching for frogs, and occasionally chattering something to himself. At the same time they saw another stork soaring high in the air, above the place.
"I will wager my beard, most gracious Sir," said the grand vizier, "that these two long-legs are carrying on a fine conversation together. What say you to turning ourselves into storks?"
"Well said!" answered the caliph. "But let us see; how is it that one is to become man again?"