一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第52章

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The　wolf　consented　to　take　the　governance　of　their　affairs　and　allotted　unto　each　of　them　what　sufficed　him　that　day；　but　on　the　morrow　he　said　in　himself；　〃If　I　divide　this　camel　amongst　these　weaklings；　no　part　thereof　will　e　to　me；　save　that　which　they　assign　to　me；　and　if　I　eat　it　alone；　they　can　do　me　no　hurt；　seeing　that　they　are　a　prey　to　me　and　to　the　people　of　my　house。　Who　shall　hinder　me　from　taking　it　for　myself？　Surely；　it　is　God　who　hath　bestowed　it　on　me；　by　way　of　provision；　and　no　thanks　to　them。　It　were　best　that　I　keep　it　for　myself；　and　henceforth　I　will　give　them　nought。〃　Accordingly；　when　the　foxes　came　to　him；　as　of　wont；　and　sought　of　him　their　food；　saying；　〃O　Abou　Sirhan；　（180）　give　us　our　day's　provender；〃　he　answered；　〃I　have　nothing　left　to　give　you。〃　Whereupon　they　went　away　in　the　sorriest　case；　saying；　〃Verily；　God　hath　cast　us　into　grievous　trouble　with　this　vile　traitor；　that　feareth　not　God　neither　respecteth　Him；　but　we　have　neither　power　nor　resource。〃　But　one　of　them　said；　〃Belike　it　was　but　stress　of　hunger　that　moved　him　to　this；　so　let　him　eat　his　fill　today；　and　tomorrow　we　will　go　to　him　again。〃

So；　on　the　morrow；　they　again　betook　themselves　to　the　wolf　and　said　to　him；　〃O　Abou　Sirhan；　we　set　thee　in　authority　over　us；　that　thou　mightest　allot　unto　each　of　us　his　day's　meat　and　do　the　weak　justice　against　the　strong　of　us　and　that；　when　this　（181）　is　finished；　thou　shouldst　do　thine　endeavour　to　get　us　other　and　so　we　be　still　under　thy　safeguard　and　protection。　Now　hunger　is　sore　upon　us；　for　that　we　have　not　eaten　these　two　days；　so　do　thou　give　us　our　day's　meat　and　thou　shalt　be　free　to　dispose　of　the　rest　as　thou　wilt。〃　But　the　wolf　returned　them　no　answer　and　redoubled　in　his　stiffneckedness。　So　they　strove　to　turn　him　from　his　purpose；　but　he　would　not　be　turned。　Then　said　one　of　the　foxes　to　the　rest；　〃Nothing　will　serve　us　but　that　we　go　to　the　lion　and　cast　ourselves　on　his　protection　and　assign　the　camel　unto　him。　If　he　vouchsafe　us　aught　thereof　it　will　be　of　his　bounty；　and　if　not；　he　is　worthier　of　it　than　this　filthy　fellow。〃

So　they　betook　themselves　to　the　lion　and　acquainted　him　with　that　which　had　betided　them　with　the　wolf；　saying；　〃We　are　thy　servants　and　e　to　thee；　imploring　thy　protection；　so　thou　mayst　deliver　us　from　this　wolf；　and　we　will　be　thy　slaves。〃　When　the　lion　heard　their　story；　he　was　jealous　for　God　the　Most　High　and　went　with　them　in　quest　of　the　wolf；　who；　seeing　him　making　for　him；　addressed　himself　to　flight；　but　the　lion　ran　after　him　and　seizing　him；　rent　him　in　pieces　and　restored　their　prey　to　the　foxes。　This　shows；'　added　Shimas；　'that　it　behoveth　no　king　to　neglect　the　affairs　of　his　subjects；　wherefore　do　thou　hearken　to　my　counsel　and　give　credit　to　that　which　I　say　to　thee；　for　thou　knowest　that　thy　father；　before　his　decease；　charged　thee　give　ear　unto　loyal　counsel。　This　is　the　last　of　my　speech　with　thee　and　peace　be　on　thee。'　Quoth　the　king；　'I　will　hearken　to　thee　and　tomorrow；　God　willing；　I　will　go　forth　to　them。'

So　Shimas　went　forth　from　him　and　returning　to　the　Folk；　told　them　that　the　king　had　accepted　his　counsel　and　promised　to　e　out　unto　them　on　the　morrow。　But；　when　the　favourite　heard　this　saying　reported　of　Shimas　and　knew　that　needs　must　the　king　go　forth　to　his　subjects；　she　betook　herself　to　him　and　said　to　him；　'How　great　is　my　wonderment　at　thy　submissiveness　and　obedience　to　thy　slaves！　Knowst　thou　not　that　these　viziers　are　thy　servants？　Why　then　dost　thou　exalt　them　to　such　a　pitch　of　importance　that　they　conceit　them　it　was　they　gave　thee　this　kingship　and　advanced　thee　to　this　height　and　that　it　is　they　who　confer　favours　on　thee；　albeit　they　have　no　power　to　do　thee　the　least　hurt？　Indeed；　it　is　they　who　owe　thee　submission；　not　thou　who　owest　it　unto　them；　and　it　is　their　duty　to　carry　out　thine　orders；　so　how　eth　it　that　thou　art　so　mightily　affrighted　at　them？　It　is　said；　〃Except　thy　heart　be　like　iron；　thou　art　not　fit　to　be　a　king。〃　But　thy　mildness　hath　deluded　these　men；　so　that　they　presume　upon　thee　and　cast　off　their　allegiance　to　thee；　albeit　it　behoveth　that　they　be　constrained　unto　obedience　and　enforced　to　submissiveness　unto　thee。　If　therefore；　thou　hasten　to　accept　their　words　and　leave　them　in　their　present　case　and　fulfil　to　them　the　least　thing　against　thy　will；　they　will　importune　thee　and　presume　upon　thee；　and　this　will　bee　their　wont。　But；　if　thou　hearken　to　me；　thou　wilt　not　advance　any　one　of　them　to　power　neither　wilt　thou　accept　his　word　nor　encourage　him　to　presume　upon　thee；　else　wilt　thou　fare　with　them　as　did　the　shepherd　with　the　robber。'　'How　was　that？'　asked　the　king；　and　she　answered；　'They　say　that

　The　Shepherd　and　the　Thief。

There　was　once　a　shepherd；　who　fed　a　flock　of　sheep　in　the　desert　and　kept　strait　watch　over　them。　One　night；　there　came　to　him　a　thief　thinking　to　steal　some　of　his　flock　and　finding　him　assiduous　in　guarding　them；　sleeping　
not　by　night　neither　relaxing　in　his　vigilance　by　day；　prowled　about　him　all　night；　but　could　get　nothing　of　him。　So；　when　he　was　weary　of　striving；　he　betook　himself　to　＇another　part　of＇　the　desert　and　trapping　a　lion；　skinned　him　and　stuffed　his　hide　with　straw；　after　which　he　carried　it　to　a　high　place；　where　the　shepherd　might　see　it　and　be　assured　thereof；　and　set　it　up　there。　Then　he　went　up　to　the　shepherd　and　said　to　him；　〃Yonder　lion　hath　sent　me　to　demand　his　supper　of　these　sheep。〃　〃Where　is　the　lion？〃　asked　the　shepherd；　and　the　thief　answered；　〃Lift　thine　eyes：　there　he　stands。〃

The　shepherd　raised　his　eyes　and　seeing　the　stuffed　hide；　deemed　it　a　very　lion　and　was　mightily　affrighted；　so　he　said　to　the　thief；　〃O　my　brother；　take　what　thou　wilt。　I　will　not　anywise　gainsay　thee。〃　So　the　thief　took　what　he　would　of　the　sheep　and　redoubled　in　avidity　by　reason　of　the　excess　of　the　shepherd's　affright。　Accordingly；　every　little　while；　he　would　go　to　him　and　frighten　him；　saying；　〃The　lion　hath　need　of　this　and　that；　and　his　intent　is　to　do　thus　and　thus；〃　and　take　what　he　would　of　the　sheep；　and　he　stinted　not　to　do　thus　with　him；　till　he　had　wasted　the　most　part　of　his　flock。　This；　O　king；'　added　the　favourite；　'I　tell　thee　but　that　thou　suffer　not　the　grandees　of　thy　realm　to　be　deluded　by　thy　mildness　and　easiness　of　temper　and　presume　on　thee；　and　in　sound　judgment　their　death　were　better　than　that　they　deal　thus　with　thee。'　Quoth　the　king；　'I　accept　this　thine　admonition　and　will　not　go　hearken　to　their　counsel　neither　go　out　unto　them。。

On　the　morrow　the　viziers　and　officers　of　state　and　heads　of　the　people　assembled　and　taking　each　his　arms；　repaired　to　the　palace　of　the　king；　so　they　might　break　in　upon　him　and　slay　him　and　make　another　king　in　his　stead。　When　they　came　to　the　door；　they　required　the　doorkeeper　to　open　to　them；　but　he　refused；　whereupon　they　sent　to　fetch　fire；　wherewith　to　burn　down　the　doors　and　enter。　The　doorkeeper；　hearing　what　was　toward　amongst　them；　went　in　to　the　king　in　haste　and　told　him　that　the　folk　were　gathered　together　at　the　gate。　'And；'　quoth　he；　'they　required　me　to　open　to　them；　but　I　refused　and　they　have　sent　to　fetch　fire　to　burn　down　the　doors　withal；　so　they　may　e　in　to　thee　and　slay　thee。　What　dost　thou　bid　me　do？'　Quoth　the　king　in　himself；　'Verily；　I　am　fallen　into　sheer　perdition。'

Then　he　sent　for　the　favourite　and　said　to　her；　'Indeed；　Shimas　never　told　me　aught　but　I　found　it　true；　and　now　the　folk　are　e；　great　and　small；　purposing　to　slay　me　and　thee；　and　for　that　the　doorkeeper　would　not　open　to　them；　they　have　sent　to　fetch　fire；　to　burn　the　doors　withal：　so　will　the　house　be　burnt　and　we　therein。　What　dost　thou　counsel　me　to　do？'　'Let　not　thine　affair　affright　thee；'　answered　she；　'no　harm　shall　betide　thee。　This　is　a　time　in　which　crackbrains　rise　against　their　kings。'　'But　what；'　asked　he；　'dost　thou　counsel　me　and　how　shall　I　do　in　this　matter？'　Quoth　she；　'My　advice　is　that　thou　bind　thy　head　with　a　fillet　and　feign　thyself　sick：　then　send　for　the　vizier　Shimas；　who　will　e　and　see　the　case　wherein　thou　art；　and　do　thou　say　to　him；　〃Verily　I　purposed　to　go　forth　to　the　folk　this　day；　but　this　sickness　hindered　me。　So　go　thou　out　to　them　and　acquaint　them　with　my　case　and　tell　them　that　tomorrow　I　will　without　fail　e　forth　to　them　and　do　their　occasions　and　look　into　their　affairs；　so　they　may　be　reassured　and　their　anger　may　subside。〃　Then　do　thou　summon　ten　of　thy　father's　stoutest　slaves；　men　of　strength　and　prowess；　to　whom　thou　canst　entrust　thyself；　giving　ear　to　thy　word　and　obedient　to　thy　mandment；　keeping　thy　secret　and　devoted　to　thy　love；　and　bid　them　on　the　morrow　stand　at　thy　head　nor　suffer　any　of　the　folk　to　enter；　save　one　by　one；　and　all　who　enter　do　thou　bid　them　put　to　death。　If　they　agree　with　thee　upon　this；　do　thou　tomorrow　set　up　thy　throne　in　the　audiencechamber　and　open　thy　doors。

When　the　folk　see　that　thou　hast　opened　thy　doors；　their　minds　will　be　set　at　ease　and　they　will　e　to　thee　with　a　whole　heart；　＇thinking　no　evil＇；　and　seek　admission　to　thee。　Then　do　thou　bid　admit　them；　one　by　one；　even　as　I　said　to　thee；　and　do　thy　will　with　them；　but　it　behoveth　thee　begin　by　putting　Shimas；　their　chief　and　leader；　to