The fisherman was much affrightened by this speech. Think of your injustice and revoke this most unreasonable oath. Pardon me, and God will pardon you. The fisherman was in great distress, not so much on his own account, as that of his three children and the wretched state to which they would be reduced by his death. He still endeavored to appease the Genie.
Necessity is indeed the mother of invention, and the fisherman thought of a plan.
When the Genie found that he should be compelled to answer, he trembled and said to the fisherman. Ask what you will, but make haste. Immediately the form of the Genie began to change into smoke and spread itself as before over both the shore and the sea. Then collecting itself, it began to enter the vase, and continued to do so until nothing remained outside. But instead of answering the Genie, he immediately took the leaden cover and put it on the vase.