"See," said she to him, holding out the figs, "here they are; now we will eat them together. We have earned them with one spring."
Jussuf declined them. "They all belong to thee," said he; "for thou alone didst pick them. I could not reach."
"Do you wish to make me angry?" said she. "Hast thou not tired thyself more than I?—there, take and eat." She forced him, by her friendly manner, to eat half the figs; while she pressed the other to her lips, sucked a little of its juice, and then threw it away. "I did that," said she, clapping her hands, "that thou mightest not soon forget me: now thou must think of me for some time."
Immediately she began a new game with him, and after a short time another, and so on, continually changing the sport. The serious Jussuf jumped, and hopped, and danced just as she wished, and tried to perform all the tricks she invented, as if he were a boy. At last they came to a fish-pond which was in the garden. She jumped into the boat, which was standing all ready, and rowed with ease into the middle of the little lake. Then she stopped and called to him,
"Come here, my true playfellow, come to me."
Jussuf stood on the bank, and would have willingly walked to her through the water; but he knew that it was too deep, and he could not swim.
"Art thou not coming?" said she; "art thou afraid of the water?"
"I cannot swim," answered he.
"Well, that is no consequence," she called out; "do as I do." And at these words she sprang lightly out of the boat, and walked over the surface of the waves as if on dry land; the water did not even moisten the sole of her sandal.
"Oh that I could!" exclaimed Jussuf. "But I am too heavy; I should sink at once."