一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第38章

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ould　have　the　succour　of　God　the　Most　High　against　his　enemy；　let　him　entreat　him　with　passion　and　kindness。　I　mit　myself　to　God　in　this　matter　and　will　deliver　this　cat　from　this　her　strait　and　earn　the　reward　＇of　God＇　for　her。〃　So　he　went　forth　and　dragged　the　cat　into　his　nest；　where　she　abode　till　she　was　rested　and　somewhat　restored；　when　she　began　to　bewail　her　weakness　and　loss　of　strength　and　lack　of　friends。　The　mouse　entreated　her　friendly　and　forted　her　and　busied　himself　with　her　service；　but　she　crept　along　till　she　got　mand　of　the　issue　of　the　nest；　lest　the　mouse　should　escape。　So；　when　the　latter　would　have　gone　out；　after　his　wont；　he　drew　near　the　cat；　whereupon　she　seized　him　and　taking　him　in　her　claws；　began　to　bite　him　and　shake　him　and　take　him　in　her　mouth　and　lift　him　up　and　throw　him　down　and　run　after　him　and　crunch　him　and　torture　him。

The　mouse　cried　out　for　help；　beseeching　God　of　deliverance；　and　began　to　upbraid　the　cat；　saying；　〃Where　is　the　covenant　thou　madest　with　me　and　where　are　the　oaths　thou　sworest　to　me？　Is　this　my　reward　from　thee？　I　brought　thee　into　my　nest　and　trusted　myself　to　thee：　but　he　speaks　sooth　who　says；　'He　who　relies　on　his　enemy's　promise　desireth　not　salvation　for　himself。'　And　again；　'Whoso　trusts　himself　to　his　enemy　merits　his　own　destruction。'　Yet　do　I　put　my　trust　in　my　Creator；　for　He　will　deliver　me　from　thee。'　The　cat　was　about　to　pounce　on　him　and　devour　him；　when　up　came　a　huntsman；　with　hunting　dogs　trained　to　the　chase。　One　of　the　dogs　passed　by　the　mouth　of　the　nest　and　hearing　a　great　scuffing　within；　thought　there　was　a　fox　there；　tearing　somewhat；　so　he　thrust　into　the　hole；　to　get　at　him；　and　ing　upon　the　cat；　seized　on　her。　When　she　found　herself　in　the　dog's　clutches；　she　was　forced　to　take　thought　to　herself　and　loosed　the　mouse　alive　and　whole　of　wound。　Then　the　dog　broke　her　neck　and　dragging　her　forth　of　the　hole；　threw　her　down　dead：　and　thus　was　exemplified　the　truth　of　the　saying；　〃He　who　hath　passion；　passion　shall　be　shown　him　at　the　last；　and　he　who　oppresseth　shall　presently　be　oppressed。〃

This；　then；　O　king；'　added　the　interpreter；　'is　what　befell　the　cat　and　the　mouse　and　teaches　that　none　should　break　faith　with　those　who　put　trust　in　him；　for　whoso　doth　perfidy　and　treason；　there　shall　befall　him　the　like　of　that　which　befell　the　cat。　As　a　man　meteth；　so　shall　it　be　meted　unto　him；　and　he　who　betaketh　himself　unto　good　shall　gain　his　reward　＇in　the　world　to　e＇。　But　grieve　thou　not；　neither　let　this　trouble　thee；　O　king；　for　that　most　like　thy　son；　after　his　tyranny　and　oppression；　will　return　to　the　goodliness　of　thy　policy。　And　I　would　that　learned　man；　thy　Vizier　Shimas；　had　concealed　from　thee　nought　in　that　which　he　expounded　unto　thee；　and　this　had　been　welladvised　of　him；　for　it　is　said；　〃Those　of　the　folk　who　most　abound　in　fear　are　the　amplest　of　them　in　knowledge　and　the　most　emulous　of　good。〃'

The　king　received　the　interpreter's　speech　with　submission　and　dismissing　him　and　his　fellow　with　rich　presents；　withdrew　to　his　own　apartments　and　fell　to　musing　over　the　issue　of　his　affair。　When　the　night　came；　he　went　in　to　one　of　his　women；　who　was　most　in　favour　with　him　and　dearest　to　him　of　them　all；　and　lay　with　her：　and　before　four　months　had　passed　over　her；　the　child　stirred　in　her　belly；　whereat　she　rejoiced　with　an　exceeding　joy　and　told　the　king。　Quoth　he；　'My　dream　said　sooth；　by　God　the　Helper！'　And　he　lodged　her　in　the　goodliest　of　lodgings　and　bestowed　on　her　store　of　rich　gifts　and　entreated　her　with　all　honour。　Then　he　sent　for　his　Vizier　Shimas　and　told　him　what　had　betided；　rejoicing　and　saying；　'My　dream　is　e　true　and　I　have　attained　my　hope。　It　may　be　this　child　will　be　a　son　and　inherit　the　kingship　after　me；　what　sayst　thou　of　this；　O　Shimas？'　But　he　was　silent　and　made　no　reply。　Quoth　the　king；　'What　ails　thee　that　thou　rejoicest　not　in　my　joy　and　returnest　me　no　answer？　Doth　the　thing　mislike　thee；　O　Shimas？'

Thereupon　the　vizier　prostrated　himself　before　him　and　said；　'O　king；　may　God　prolong　thy　life！　What　availeth　it　to　sit　under　the　shade　of　a　tree；　if　there　issue　fire　therefrom；　and　what　is　the　delight　of　one　who　drinketh　pure　wine；　if　he　be　choked　withal；　and　what　doth　it　profit　to　quench　one's　thirst　with　sweet　cool　water；　if　one　be　drowned　therein？　I　am　God's　servant　and　thine；　O　king；　but　there　are　three　things　whereof　it　beats　not　the　understanding　to　speak　till　they　be　acplished；　to　wit；　the　traveller；　till　he　return　from　his　journey：　the　man　who　is　at　war；　till　he　have　overe　his　enemy；　and　the　pregnant　woman；　till　she　have　cast　her　burden。　For　know；　O　king；　that　he；　who　speaks　of　aught　before　it　be　acplished；　is　like　the　fakir　and　the　pot　of　butter。'　'What　is　the　story　of　the　fakir；'　asked　the　king；　'and　what　happened　to　him？'　'O　king；'　answered　the　vizier；

　The　Fakir　and　His　Pot　of　Butter。

'A　fakir　abode　once　with　one　of　the　nobles　of　a　certain　town；　who　made　him　a　daily　allowance　of　three　cakes　of　bread　and　a　little　butter　and　honey。　Now　butter　was　dear　in　those　parts　and　the　fakir　laid　all　that　came　to　him　together　in　a　pot　he　had；　till　he　filled　it　and　hung　it　up　over　his　head　for　safe　keeping。　One　night；　as　he　sat　on　his　bed；　with　his　staff　in　his　hand；　he　fell　amusing　upon　the　butter　and　the　greatness　of　its　price　and　said　in　himself；　〃Needs　must　I　sell　all　this　butter　I　have　and　buy　an　ewe　with　the　price　and　take　to　partner　therein　a　husbandman　who　has　a　ram。　The　first　year　she　will　bear　a　male　lamb　and　a　female　and　the　second　the　like；　and　these　in　their　turn　will　bear　others；　nor　will　they　give　over　bearing　males　and　females；　till　they　bee　a　great　matter。　The　males　I　will　sell　and　buy　with　them　bulls　and　cows；　which　will　also　engender　and　multiply　and　bee　many。

Then　will　I　take　my　share　and　sell　thereof　what　I　will　and　buy　such　a　piece　of　land　and　plant　a　garden　therein　and　build　thereon　a　great　palace。　Moreover；　I　will　get　me　clothes　and　raiment　and　slaves　and　slavegirls　and　take　me　to　wife　the　daughter　of　such　a　merchant　and　hold　a　wedding　the　like　whereof　was　never　seen。　I　will　slaughter　cattle　and　make　rich　meats　and　sweetmeats　and　confections　and　provide　flowers　and　perfumes　and　all　manner　sweet　herbs　and　assemble　all　the　musicians　and　mimes　and　mountebanks　and　playerfolk。　Then　will　I　bid　rich　and　poor　and　the　learned　and　captains　and　grandees；　and　whoso　asks　for　aught；　I　will　cause　it　to　be　brought　him。　Moreover；　I　will　make　ready　all　manner　of　meat　and　drink　and　send　out　a　crier　to　cry　aloud　and　say；　'Whoso　seeketh　aught；　let　him　＇e＇　and　get　it。'　Then　will　I　go　in　to　my　bride；　after　they　have　unveiled　her　before　me；　and　enjoy　her　beauty　and　grace；　and　I　will　eat　and　drink　and　make　merry　and　say　to　myself；　'Now　hast　thou　attained　thy　desire；'　and　will　rest　from　devotion　and　asceticism。

In　due　time　my　wife　will　bear　me　a　boy；　and　I　shall　rejoice　in　him　and　make　banquets　in　his　honour　and　rear　him　delicately　and　teach　him　philosophy　and　mathematics　and　polite　letters。　（143）　So　shall　I　make　his　name　renowned　among　the　folk　and　glory　in　him　among　the　assemblies　of　the　learned。　I　will　enjoin　him　to　do　good　and　he　shall　not　gainsay　me；　and　I　will　forbid　him　from　le　to　the　fear　of　God　and　the　practice　of　righteousness。　Moreover；　I　will　bestow　on　him　rich　and　goodly　gifts；　and　if　I　see　him　assiduous　in　obedience；　I　will　redouble　in　my　bounties　towards　him：　but；　if　I　see　him　incline　unto　disobedience；　I　will　e　down　on　him　with　his　staff。'　So　saying；　he　raised　his　dand；　to　beat　his　son；　but　the　staff　struck　the　pot　of　butter；　that　hung　over　his　head；　and　broke　it；　whereupon　the　potsherds　fell　upon　him　and　the　butter　ran　down　upon　his　head　and　beard。　So　his　clothes　and　bed　were　spoiled　and　he　became　an　admonition　to　whoso　will　profit　by　admonition。　Wherefore；　O　king；'　added　the　vizier；　'it　behoves　not　a　man　to　speak　of　aught　ere　it　e　to　pass。'　'Thou　sayst　sooth；'　answered　the　king；　'fair　fall　thee　for　a　vizier！　For　thou　speakest　the　truth　and　counsellest　righteousness。　Verily；　thy　rank　with　me　is　such　as　thou　couldst　wish　（144）　and　thou　shalt　never　cease　to　have　acceptance　with　me。'

The　vizier　prostrated　himself　before　the　king　and　wished　him　continuance　of　prosperity；　saying；　'May　God　prolong　thy　days　and　exalt　thy　dignity！　Know　that　I　conceal　from　thee　nought；　neither　in　private　nor　in　public；　thy　pleasure　is　my　pleasure；　and　thy　wrath　my　wrath。　There　is　no　joy　for　me　but　in　thy　joyance　and　I　cannot　sleep；　if　thou　be　angered　against　me；　for　that　God　the　Most　High　hath　vouchsafed　me　all　good　through　thy　bounties　to　me；　wherefore　I　beseech　Him　to　guard　thee　with　His　angels　and　make　fair　thy　rewards　whenas　thou　meetest　Him。'　The　king　rejoiced　in　this；　and　Shimas　arose　and　went　out　from　before　him。

In　due　time　the　king's　wife　gave　birth　to　a　male　child；　and　the　messengers　hastened　to　bear　the　glad　tidings　to　the　king；　who　rejoiced　therein　with　an　exceeding　joy　and　offered　up　abundant　thanks　to　God；　saying；　'Praised　be　God　who　hath　vouchsafed　me　a　son；　after　I　had　despaired！　For　He　is　pitiful　and　tenderly　solicitous　over　His　servants。'　Then　he　wrote　to　all　the　people　of　his　dominions；　acquainting　them　with　the　good　news　and　bidding　them　to　his　capital；　and　great　were　the　rejoic