一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第56章

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his　ridiculous　letter。　But　he　shall　have　an　answer　like　unto　his　letter　and　overpassing　it；　for　I　will　give　it　to　one　of　the　boys　of　the　school　to　answer。〃　Then　send　for　me；　and　when　I　e；　bid　me　read　the　letter　and　answer　it。'

When　the　king　heard　the　boy's　speech；　his　breast　expanded　and　he　approved　his　counsel　and　his　device　pleased　him。　So　he　conferred　largesse　upon　him　and　instating　him　in　his　father's　once；　sent　him　away；　rejoicing。　When　the　three　days　of　delay　were　expired；　that　he　had　appointed　unto　the　courier；　the　latter　presented　himself　and　going　in　to　the　king；　demanded　the　answer；　but　he　put　him　off　to　another　day；　whereupon　he　went　to　the　end　of　the　throneroom　and　spake　unseemly；　even　as　the　boy　had　foresaid。　Then　he　betook　himself　to　the　bazaar　and　said；　'Ho；　people　of　this　city；　I　came　with　a　message　from　the　King　of　Farther　India　to　your　king；　and　still　he　putteth　me　off　from　an　answer。　Now　the　term　is　past　which　my　master　limited　unto　me　and　your　king　hath　no　excuse；　and　ye　are　witnesses　unto　this。'

When　this　speech　was　reported　to　the　king；　he　sent　for　the　courier　and　said　to　him；　'O　thou　that　seekest　thine　own　destruction；　art　thou　not　the　bearer　of　a　letter　from　king　to　king；　between　whom　are　secrets；　and　how　eth　it　that　thou　goest　forth　among　the　folk　and　publishest　kings'　secrets　to　the　mon　people？　Verily；　thou　meritest　punishment　from　us；　but　this　we　will　forbear；　for　the　sake　of　returning　an　answer　by　thee　to　this　fool　of　a　king　of　thine：　and　it　befitteth　not　that　any　return　him　an　answer　but　the　least　of　the　boys　of　the　school。'　Then　he　sent　for　the　vizier's　son；　who　carne　and　prostrating　himself　to　God；　offered　up　prayers　for　the　king's　abiding　glory　and　long　life；　whereupon　Wird　Khan　threw　him　the　letter；　saying；　'Read　that　letter　and　write　me　a　reply　hereto　in　haste。'

The　boy　took　the　letter　and　reading　it；　smiled；　then　he　laughed　aloud　and　said　to　the　king；　'Didst　thou　send　for　me　to　answer　this　letter？'　'Yes；'　answered　Wird　Khan；　and　the　boy　said；　'O　king；　methought　thou　hadst　sent　for　me　on　some　grave　matter；　indeed　a　lesser　than　I　had　availed　to　the　answering　of　this　letter；　but　it　is　thine　to　mand；　O　puissant　king。'　Quoth　the　king；　'Write　the　answer　forthright；　on　account　of　the　courier；　for　that　he　is　appointed　a　term　and　we　have　delayed　him　another　day。'　'I　hear　and　obey；'　answered　the　boy　and　pulling　out　paper　and　inkhorn；　wrote　the　following　answer。

'In　the　name　of　God　the　Merciful；　the　passionate！　Peace　be　upon　him　who　hath　gotten　pardon　and　deliverance　and　the　mercy　of　the　passionate　One！　To　proceed。　O　thou　that　pretendeth　thyself　a　mighty　king　＇and　art　but　a　king＇　in　word　and　not　in　deed；　we　give　thee　to　know　that　thy　letter　hath　reached　us　and　we　have　read　it　and　have　taken　note　of　that　which　is　therein　of　absurdities　and　rare　extravagances；　whereby　we　are　certified　of　thine　ignorance　and　illwill　unto　us。　Verily；　thou　hast　put　out　thy　hand　to　that　whereunto　thou　availest　not；　and　but　that　we　have　passion　on　God's　creatures　and　the　people；　we　had　not　held　back　＇our　hand＇　from　thee。　As　for　thy　messenger；　he　went　forth　to　the　bazaar　and　published　the　news　of　thy　letter　to　great　and　small；　whereby　he　merited　punishment　from　us；　but　we　spared　him　and　remitted　his　offence；　not　of　respect　for　thee；　but　of　pity　for　him；　seeing　that　he　is　excusable　with　thee。

As　for　that　whereof　thou　makest　mention　in　thy　letter　of　the　slaughter　of　my　viziers　and　wise　men　and　grandees；　this　is　the　truth　and　＇this　I　did＇　for　a　reason　that　availed　with　me；　and　I　slew　not　one　man　of　learning　but　there　are　with　me　a　thousand　of　his　kind；　wiser　than　he　and　more　of　sense　and　learning；　nor　is　there　with　me　a　child　but　is　filled　with　knowledge　and　wisdom；　and　I　have；　in　the　stead　of　each　of　the　slain；　of　those　who　surpass　in　his　kind；　what　is　beyond　count。　Moreover；　each　of　my　troops　con　cope　with　a　battalion　of　thine；　whilst；　as　for　treasure；　I　have　a　manufactory　that　makes　every　day　a　thousand　pounds　of　silver；　besides　gold；　and　precious　stones　are　with　me　as　pebbles；　and　as　for　the　people　of　my　kingdom；　I　cannot　set　forth　to　thee　their　wealth　and　beauty　and　goodliness。　How　darest　thou；　therefore；　presume　upon　us　and　say　to　us；　〃Build　me　a　castle　amiddleward　the　sea？〃　Verily；　this　is　a　marvellous　thing；　and　doubtless　it　arises　from　the　slenderness　of　thy　wit；　for；　hadst　thou　aught　of　sense；　thou　hadst　enquired　of　the　beatings　of　the　waves　and　the　movements　of　the　winds。　But　fend　thou　off　therefrom　the　waves　and　the　surges　of　the　sea　and　still　the　winds；　and　we　will　build　thee　the　castle。

As　for　thy　pretension　that　thou　e；　God　forfend　that　the　like　of　thee　should　lord　it　over　us　and　conquer　our　realm！　Nay；　God　the　Most　High　hath　given　me　the　mastery　over　thee；　for　that　thou　hast　transgressed　against　me　and　provoked　me　without　due　cause。　Know；　therefore；　that　thou　hast　merited　chastisement　from　God　and　from　me；　but　I　fear　God　in　respect　of　thee　and　thy　subjects　（186）　and　will　not　take　horse　against　thee　but　after　warning。　Wherefore；　if　thou　fear　God；　hasten　to　send　me　this　year's　tribute；　else　will　I　not　leave　to　ride　forth　against　thee　with　a　thousand　thousand　and　a　hundred　thousand　fightingmen；　all　giants　on　elephants；　and　I　will　range　them　round　about　my　vizier　and　bid　him　beleaguer　thee　three　years；　in　place　of　the　three　days'　delay　thou　appointedst　to　thy　messenger；　and　I　will　make　myself　master　of　thy　kingdom；　except　that　I　will　slay　none　but　thyself　alone　and　make　prisoners　therefrom　none　but　thy　harem。'

Then　the　boy　drew　his　own　portrait　in　the　margin　of　the　letter　and　wrote　thereunder　the　words：　'This　answer　was　written　by　the　least　of　the　boys　of　the　school；'　after　which　he　sealed　it　and　handed　it　to　the　king。　The　latter　gave　it　to　the　courier；　who　took　it　and　kissing　the　king's　hands；　went　forth　from　him；　rendering　thanks　to　God　and　the　king　for　the　latter's　clemency　to　him　and　marvelling　at　the　boy's　intelligence。　He　arrived　at　the　court　of　the　king；　his　master；　three　days　after　the　expiration　of　the　term　appointed　to　him；　and　found　that　he　had　called　a　meeting　of　his　council；　by　reason　of　the　failure　of　the　courier　to　return　at　the　appointed　time。　So　he　went　in　to　the　king　and　prostrating　himself　before　him；　gave　him　the　letter。　The　king　took　it　and　questioned　him　of　the　cause　of　his　tarrying　and　how　it　was　with　King　Wird　Khan。　So　he　recounted　to　him　all　that　he　had　seen　with　his　eyes　and　heard　with　his　ears；　whereat　the　king's　wit　was　confounded　and　he　said；　'Out　on　thee！　What　tale　is　this　thou　tellest　me　of　the　like　of　this　king？'　'O　mighty　king；'　answered　the　courier；　'I　am　here　before　thee；　（187）　but　open　the　letter　and　read　it；　and　the　truth　of　my　speech　will　appear　to　thee。'

So　the　king　opened　the　letter　and　read　it　and　seeing　the　portrait　of　the　boy　who　had　written　it；　made　sure　of　the　loss　of　his　kingdom　and　was　perplexed　concerning　the　issue　of　his　affair。　Then；　turning　to　his　viziers　and　grandees；　he　acquainted　them　with　the　case　and　read　them　the　letter；　whereat　they　were　mightily　affrighted　and　sought　to　calm　the　king's　terror　with　words　that　were　only　from　the　tongue；　whilst　their　hearts　were　torn　with　alarm　and　anxiety；　but　Bediya；　the　chief　vizier；　said；　'Know；　O　king；　that　there　is　no　avail　in　that　which　my　brother　viziers　have　said；　and　it　is　my　counsel　that　thou　write　this　king　a　letter　and　excuse　thyself　to　him　therein；　saying；　〃I　love　thee　and　loved　thy　father　before　thee　and　sent　thee　this　letter　by　the　courier　only　to　prove　thee　and　try　thy　constancy　and　see　what　was　in　thee　of　stoutness　and　thy　proficiency　in　matters　practical　and　theoretical　and　skill　in　enigmas　and　that　wherewith　thou　art　endowed　of　all　perfections。　Wherefore　we　pray　God　the　Most　High　to　bless　thee　in　thy　kingdom　and　strengthen　the　defences　of　thy　＇capital＇　city　and　add　to　thy　dominion；　since　thou　art　mindful　of　thyself　and　acplishest　the　needs　of　thy　subjects。〃　And　send　it　to　him　by　another　courier。'　'By　the　Great　God；'　exclaimed　the　king；　'it　is　a　wonder　of　wonders　that　this　man　should　be　a　mighty　king　and　prepared　for　war；　after　his　slaughter　of　all　the　wise　men　of　his　kingdom　and　his　counsellors　and　the　captains　of　his　host　and　that　his　realm　should　prosper　after　this　and　there　should　issue　therefrom　this　vast　strength！　But　the　most　wonderful　of　all　is　that　the　little　ones　of　its　schools　should　return　the　like　of　this　answer　for　its　king。　Verily；　of　my　illomened　presumption；　I　have　kindled　this　fire　upon　myself；　and　I　know　not　how　I　shall　quench　it；　save　＇by　acting　on＇　the　advice　of　this　my　vizier。'

Accordingly　he　made　ready　a　rich　present；　with　slaves　and　attendants　galore；　and　wrote　the　following　letter　＇in　answer　to　that　of　Wird　Khan＇。　'In　the　name　of　God；　the　passionate；　the　Merciful！　To　proceed。　O　glorious　King　Wird　Khan；　son　of　my　dear　brother　Jelyaad；　may　God　have　mercy　on　thee　and　continue　thee　＇on　life！＇　Thine　answer　to　our　letter　hath　reached　us　and　we　have　read　it　and　apprehended　its　meaning　and　see　therein　that　which　rejoiceth　us；　and　this　is　the　utmost　of　that　which　we　sought　of　God　for　thee；　wherefore　we　beseech　Him　to　exalt　thy　dignity　and　stablish　the　pillars　of　thy　state　and　give　thee　the　victory　over　thy　foes　and　those　who　purpose　thee　ill。　Know；　O　king；　that　thy　father　was　my　br