一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第53章

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r；　to　death；　for　he　is　the　Grand　Vizier　and　head　of　the　matter。　So　slay　him　first　and　after　put　all　the　rest　to　death；　one　after　another；　and　spare　none　whom　thou　knowest　to　have　broken　his　covenant　with　thee；　and　on　like　wise　slay　all　whose　violence　thou　fearest。　lf　thou　deal　thus　with　them；　there　will　be　left　them　no　power　to　make　head　against　thee；　so　shalt　thou　be　altogether　at　rest　from　them　and　shalt　enjoy　thy　kingship　in　peace　and　do　what　thou　wilt；　and　know　that　there　is　no　device　that　will　advantage　thee　more　than　this。'　'Verily；'　said　the　king；　'this　thy　counsel　is　just　and　that　which　thou　biddest　me　welladvised；　and　I　will　assuredly　do　as　thou　sayest。'

So　he　called　for　a　fillet　and　bound　his　head　therewith　and　feigned　sickness。　Then　he　sent　for　Shimas　and　said　to　him；　'O　Shimas；　thou　knowest　that　I　love　thee　and　hearken　to　thy　counsel　and　thou　art　to　me　as　brother　and　father　both　in　one。　Moreover；　thou　knowest　that　I　do　all　thou　biddest　me　and　indeed　thou　badest　me　go　forth　to　the　folk　and　sit　to　judge　between　them。　Now　I　was　certified　that　this　was　loyal　counsel　on　thy　part　and　purposed　to　go　forth　to　them　yesterday；　but　this　sickness　betided　me　and　I　cannot　sit　up。　I　hear　that　the　folk　are　incensed　at　my　failure　to　e　forth　to　them　and　are　minded　of　their　malice　to　do　with　me　that　which　is　not　seemly；　for　that　they　know　not　what　aileth　me。　So　go　thou　forth　to　them　and　acquaint　them　with　my　case　and　excuse　me　to　them；　for　I　am　obedient　to　their　bidding　and　will　do　according　to　their　desire；　wherefore　do　thou　order　this　affair　and　engage　thyself　to　them　for　me　of　this；　for　that　thou　hast　been　a　loyal　counsellor　to　me　and　to　my　father　before　me；　and　it　is　of　thy　wont　to　make　peace　between　the　folk。　To　morrow；　if　it　be　the　will　of　God　the　Most　High；　I　will　without　fail　e　forth　to　them；　and　peradventure　my　sickness　will　cease　from　me　this　night；　by　the　blessing　of　the　purity　of　my　intent　and　the　good　I　purpose　them　in　my　heart。'

Shimas　prostrated　himself　to　God　and　called　down　blessings　on　the　king　and　kissed　his　hand；　rejoicing。　Then　he　went　forth　to　the　folk　and　told　them　what　he　had　heard　from　the　king　and　forbade　them　from　that　which　they　had　a　mind　to　do；　acquainting　them　with　the　king's　excuse　for　his　absence　and　that　he　had　promised　to　e　forth　to　them　on　the　morrow　and　deal　with　them　according　to　their　wishes；　whereupon　they　dispersed　and　returned　to　their　houses。

Meanwhile　the　king　sent　for　ten　slaves　of　gigantic　stature；　men　of　stout　heart　and　great　prowess；　whom　he　had　chosen　from　amongst　his　father's　bodyguards；　and　said　to　them；　'Ye　know　the　favour　and　esteem　in　which　my　father　held　you　and　all　the　bounties　and　honours　he　bestowed　on　you；　and　I　will　advance　you　to　yet　higher　rank　with　me　than　this。　Now　I　will　tell　you　the　reason　thereof　and　ye　are　under　God's　safeguard　from　me。　But　＇first＇　I　will　ask　you　of　somewhat　wherein　if　ye　do　my　bidding；　obeying　me　in　that　which　I　shall　mand　you　and　keeping　my　secret　from　all　men；　ye　shall　have　of　me　largesse　and　favour　overplaying　your　desire。'

The　slaves　answered　him　with　one　voice；　saying；　'All　that　thou　biddest　us；　O　our　lord；　will　we　do；　nor　will　we　anywise　depart　from　thy　mandment；　for　thou　art　our　lord　and　master。'　'God　be　good　to　you！'　said　the　king。　'Now　will　I　tell　you　why　I　have　chosen　you　out　for　increase　of　honour　with　me。　Ye　know　how　generously　my　father　dealt　with　the　people　of　his　dominions　and　the　oath　he　took　from　them　on　my　behalf　and　how　they　promised　him　that　they　would　not　break　faith　with　me　nor　gainsay　my　mandment；　and　ye　saw　how　they　did　yesterday；　whenas　they　came　all　together　about　me　and　would　have　slain　me。　Now　I　am　minded　to　do　with　them　somewhat；　to　wit；　I　have　considered　their　fashion　of　yesterday　and　see　that　nought　but　exemplary　chastisement　will　restrain　them　from　the　like　of　this；　wherefore　I　charge　you　privily　to　put　to　death　whom　I　shall　point　out　to　you；　to　the　intent　that；　by　slaying　their　leaders　and　chiefs；　I　may　ward　off　evil　and　calamity　from　my　realm；　and　the　manner　thereof　shall　be　on　this　wise。　Tomorrow　I　will　sit　in　this　chair　in　this　chamber　and　give　them　leave　to　enter；　one　by　one；　ing　in　at　one　door　and　going　out　at　another；　and　do　ye　stand；　all　ten；　before　me　and　be　attentive　to　my　signs；　and　whoso　enters　singly；　take　him　and　drag　him　into　yonder　chamber　and　slay　him　and　hide　his　body。'　The　slaves　answered；　'We　hearken　to　thy　word　and　obey　thy　mandment。'　Whereupon　he　gave　them　largesse　and　dismissed　them。

On　the　morrow　he　summoned　the　slaves　and　bade　set　up　the　throne。　Then　he　donned　his　royal　robes　and　taking　the　book　of　the　law　（182）　in　his　hands；　posted　the　ten　slaves　before　him　and　manded　to　open　the　doors。　So　they　opened　the　doors　and　the　herald　proclaimed　aloud；　saying；　'Whoso　hath　authority；　let　him　e　to　the　king's　carpet！'　（183）　Whereupon　up　came　the　viziers　and　prefects　and　chamberlains　and　stood；　each　in　his　rank。　Then　the　king　bade　admit　them；　one　by　one；　and　the　first　to　enter　was　Shimas；　after　the　wont　of　the　chief　vizier；　but　no　sooner　had　he　presented　himself　before　the　king　than　the　ten　slaves　set　upon　him；　ere　he　could　be　ware；　and　dragging　him　into　the　adjoining　chamber；　despatched　him。　On　like　wise　did　they　with　the　rest　of　the　viziers　and　doctors　and　notables；　slaying　them；　one　after　another；　till　they　made　an　end　of　them　all。　Then　the　king　called　the　headsmen　and　bade　them　put　to　the　sword　all　who　remained　of　the　folk　of　valour　and　prowess。　So　they　fell　on　them　and　left　none　whom　they　knew　for　a　man　of　mettle　but　they　slew　him；　sparing　only　the　dregs　and　refuse　of　the　people。　These　latter　they　drove　away　and　they　returned　each　to　his　folk；　whilst　the　king　secluded　himself　with　his　pleasures　and　surrendered　his　soul　to　its　lusts；　ensuing　tyranny　and　oppression　and　unright；　till　he　outwent　all　the　men　of　evil　who　had　foregone　him。

Now　this　king's　realm　was　a　mine　of　gold　and　silver　and　jacinths　and　jewels　and　the　neighbouring　kings　envied　him　this　empire　and　looked　for　calamity　to　betide　him。　Moreover；　one　of　them　＇to　wit；　the　King　of　Farther　India＇　said　in　himself；　'Now　have　I　gotten　my　desire　of　wresting　the　realm　from　the　hand　of　yonder　crackbrained　boy；　by　reason　of　that　which　hath　betided　of　his　slaughter　of　the　chiefs　of　his　state　and　of　all　the　men　of　valour　and　mettle　that　were　in　his　dominions。　Now　is　my　occasion　to　snatch　away　that　which　is　in　his　hand；　seeing　he　hath　no　knowledge　of　war　nor　judgment　thereto；　nor　is　there　any　left　to　counsel　him　aright　or　succour　him。　Wherefore　this　very　day　will　I　open　on　him　the　door　of　mischief　by　writing　him　a　letter　wherein　I　will　flout　him　and　reproach　him　with　that　which　he　hath　done　and　see　what　he　will　answer。'

So　he　wrote　him　a　letter　to　the　following　effect：　'In　the　name　of　God　the　passionate；　the　Merciful！　I　have　heard　tell　of　that　which　thou　hast　done　with　thy　viziers　and　doctors　and　men　of　war　and　that　whereinto　thou　hast　cast　thyself　of　calamity；　so　that　there　is　neither　power　nor　strength　left　in　thee　to　repel　whoso　shall　assail　thee；　more　by　token　that　thou　transgressest　and　orderest　thyself　tyrannously　and　profligately。　Now　God　hath　given　me　the　mastery　over　thee　and　hath　delivered　thee　into　my　hand；　wherefore　do　thou　give　ear　to　my　word　and　obey　my　mandment　and　build　me　an　impregnable　castle　amiddleward　the　sea。　If　thou　canst　not　do　this；　depart　thy　realm　and　begone　with　thy　life；　for　I　will　send　unto　thee；　from　the　farthest　parts　of　Hind；　twelve　squadrons　of　horse；　each　twelve　thousand　fightingmen　strong；　who　shall　enter　thy　land　and　spoil　thy　goods　and　slay　thy　men　and　take　thy　women　prisoners。　Moreover；　I　will　make　my　Vizier　Bediya　captain　over　them　and　bid　him　lay　strait　siege　＇to　thy　capital　city＇　till　he　master　it；　and　I　have　manded　the　bearer　of　this　letter　that　he　tarry　with　thee　but　three　days。　So；　if　thou　do　my　bidding；　thou　shalt　be　saved；　else　will　I　send　unto　thee　that　which　I　have　said。'

Then　he　sealed　the　letter　and　gave　it　to　a　messenger；　who　journeyed　with　it　till　he　came　to　Wird　Khan's　capital　and　delivered　it　to　him。　When　the　young　king　read　it；　his　heart　sank　within　him　and　his　breast　was　straitened　and　he　made　sure　of　destruction；　having　none　to　whom　he　might　resort　for　counsel　or　succour。　So　he　rose　and　went　in　to　his　favourite；　who；　seeing　him　changed　of　colour；　said　to　him；　'What　ails　thee；　O　king？'　Quoth　he；　'Today　I　am　no　king；　but　slave　to　the　king。'　And　he　opened　the　letter　and　read　it　to　her；　whereupon　she　fell　to　weeping　and　lamenting　and　tearing　her　clothes。　Then　said　he　to　her；　'Hast　thou　aught　of　counsel　or　resource　in　this　grievous　state？'　But　she　answered；　'Women　have　no　resource　in　time　of　war；　nor　have　they　strength　or　judgment。　It　is　men　alone　who　have　strength　and　judgment　and　resource　in　the　like　of　this　affair。''

When　the　king　heard　this；　there　befell　him　the　utmost　grief　and　repentance　and　remorse　for　that　wherein　he　had　transgressed　against　his　viziers　and　officers　and　the　nobles　of　his　people　and　the　chiefs　of　his　state；　and　he　would　that　he　had　died　ere　there　came　to　him　the　like　of　this　shameful　news。　Then　he　said　to　his　women；　'Verily；　there　hath　betided　me　from　you　that　which　befell　the　heathcock　with　the　tortoises。'　'What　was　that？'　asked　they；　and　he　answered；　'It　is　said