The Turkish Jester or, The Pleasantries of Cogia Nasr Eddin Effendi
   Transcribed from the 1924 Norwich edition, Vol. 16, Miscellanies, by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk

   TRANSLATED FROM THE TURKISH

   BY

   GEORGE BORROW.

   IPSWICH:

   W. WEBBER, DIAL LANE,

   1884.

     ‘A breeze, which pleasant stories bears,

     Relicks of long departed years.’

   The story goes, one of the stories of a hundred, that Cogia Nasr Eddin Efendi one day ascending into the pulpit to preach, said, ‘O believers, do ye not know what I am going to say to you?’ The congregation answered, ‘Dear Cogia Efendi, we do not know.’ Then said the Cogia, ‘What shall I say to you until you do know?’ One day the Cogia ascending again into the pulpit, said, ‘O Mussulmen, do ye not know what I am going to say to you?’ ‘We do know,’ they replied. Then said the Cogia, ‘Some of ye do know already, what should I have to say to you?’ Then descending from the chair he went out. The assembly separated quite astonished, and, when they were out, continued to say, ‘Which are those of us who know? Which are those who do not know?’ The Cogia one day again mounting the chair in the same manner, said, ‘O brothers, when I said to ye, “Do you know what I shall say?” there were some who said, “We know,” others said, “We do not.” It were now well that those among ye who knew what the Cogia said should teach those that did not.’

   One day Cogia Nasr Eddin Efendi said, ‘O Mussulmen, give thanks to God Most High that He did not give the camel wings; for, had He given them, they would have perched upon your houses and chimneys, and have caused them to tumble upon your heads.’

   One day Cogia Nasr Eddin Efendi having mounted the chair in a city, said, ‘O Mussulmen, the air above this city is just like the air above my city.’ The congregation said, ‘O Cogia Efendi, how do you know that?’ Said the Cogia, ‘Because I have seen as many stars above this city as I saw above Belgrade.’

   One night the Cogia dreamt that he was 
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