fii safratihi al-khaamisati waṣala as-sindibaadu ilaa jaziiratin haadi’atinOn his fifth voyage Sindbad reached a quiet island.
ra’aa shaykhan ḍaʿiifan jaalisan ʿalaa ḥaaffati nahrinHe saw a frail old man sitting at the edge of a stream.
ashaara ash-shaykhu ilayhi an yaḥmilahu ʿalaa katifayhi liyaʿbura an-nahraThe old man signalled to him to carry him on his shoulders so he could cross the stream.
ḥamalahu as-sindibaadu walaakinna ash-shaykha laffa rijlayhi ḥawla raqabatihi walam yanzilSindbad carried him, but the old man wrapped his legs around his neck and would not get down.
baqiya as-sindibaadu yaḥmiluhu ayyaaman walayaaliya wahuwa mutʿabunSindbad kept carrying him for days and nights, exhausted.
fakkara fii ḥiilatin wa’aʿṭaahu ʿaṣiira thamaratin munawwimatin fanaama ash-shaykhuHe thought of a trick and gave him the juice of a drowsy fruit, and the old man fell asleep.
ḥiina naama ash-shaykhu waartakhat rijlaahu nazala as-sindibaadu bihuduu’in waharabaWhen the old man slept and his legs went slack, Sindbad slipped down quietly and ran away.
al-ḥadharu laazimun ḥattaa maʿa man yabduu ḍaʿiifanCaution is needed even with someone who seems weak.