Arabian Old Man Of Sea

tale:arabian_old_man_of_sea

Shipwrecked, Sindbad meets a feeble old man by a stream who begs to be carried across on his shoulders — then locks his legs about Sindbad's neck and will not dismount, riding him cruelly for days. Sindbad ferments grape juice into wine, drinks before the old man, and offers him some; drunk and slack, the rider loosens his grip, and Sindbad throws him off at last. Moral: a burden that will not release may yet be outwitted. — Thousand and One Nights