一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第34部分

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irs；　none　of　the　other　birds　could　avail　against　them。　In　course　of　time　there　befell　their　chief　that　which　is　irrevocably　appointed　to　all　creatures　and　he　died；　whereupon　the　others　mourned　sore　for　him；　and　what　added　to　their　grief　was　that　there　was　not　amongst　them　one　like　unto　him。　who　should　fill　his　place。　So　they　all　assembled　and　took　counsel　together　of　whom　it　befitted　to　set　over　them：　and　some　of　them　chose　one　crow；　saying；　〃It　beseemeth　that　this　one　be　king　over　us；〃　whilst　others　objected　to　him　and　would　none　of　him；　and　thus　there　arose　division　and　dissension　among　them　and　the　strife　waxed　hot　between　them。

At　last　they　agreed　to　sleep　the　night　upon　it　and　that　none　should　go　forth　at　peep　of　dawn　next　morning　to　seek　his　living；　＇as　of　wont＇；　but　that　all　should　wait　till　daybreak；　when　they　should　meet　all　in　one　place。　〃Then；〃　said　they；　〃we　will　all　take　flight　at　once　and　whichsoever　soars　above　the　rest　in　his　flying；　we　will　make　king　over　us。〃　So　they　did　as　they　had　agreed　and　took　flight　all；　but　each　of　them　deemed　himself　higher　than　his　fello　highest；〃　and　that；　〃Nay；　that　am　I。〃　Then　said　the　lowest　of　them　；　〃Look　up；　all　of　you；　and　whomsoever　ye　find　the　highest　of　you；　let　him　be　your　chief。〃　So　they　raised　their　eyes　and　seeing　the　hawk　soaring　over　them；　said　to　each　other；　〃We　agreed　that　which　bird　soever　should　be　the　highest　of　us　should　be　king　over　us；　and　behold；　the　hawk　is　the　highest　of　us：　what　say　ye　to　him？〃　And　they　all　cried　out；　saying；　〃We　accept　of　him。〃

So　they　called　the　hawk　and　said　to　him；　〃O　father　of　good；　we　have　chosen　thee　governor　over　us；　that　thou　mayst　look　into　our　affair。〃　The　hawk　consented；　saying；　〃God　willing；　ye　shall　have　of　me　great　good。〃　But；　after　awhile；　he　fell　to　taking　a　pany　of　them　and　betaking　himself　with　them　afar　off　to　one　of　the　caves；　where　he　struck　them　down　and　eating　their　eyes　and　brains；　threw　their　bodies　into　the　river。　Thus　he　did　every　day；　it　being　his　intent　to　destroy　them　all；　＇one　after　another＇；　till；　seeing　that　their　number　diminished　daily；　the　crows　flocked　to　him　and　said；　〃O　our　king；　we　plain　to　thee　for　that；　since　the　day　we　made　thee　king　and　ruler　over　us；　we　are　in　the　sorriest　case　and　every　day　a　pany　of　us　is　missing　and　we　know　not　the　cause　of　this；　more　by　token　that　the　most　part　thereof　are　of　those　in　attendance　on　thee。〃

Thereupon　the　hawk　waxed　wroth　with　them　and　said　to　them；　〃Verily　it　is　ye　who　have　slain　them；　and　ye　forestall　me　＇with　accusation＇。〃　So　saying；　he　pounced　upon　them　and　tearing　half　a　score　of　their　chiefs　＇in　pieces＇　before　the　rest；　threatened　them　and　drove　them　out　from　before　him　with　blows　and　buffets。　So　they　repented　them　of　that　which　they　had　done　and　said；　〃We　have　known　no　good　since　the　death　of　our　first　king；　especially　in　the　deed　of　this　stranger　in　kind；　but　we　deserve　＇all　we　suffer＇；　even　had　he　destroyed　us　to　the　last　of　us；　and　there　is　exemplified　in　us　the　saying　of　Him　who　saith；　'He　who　submitteth　not　himself　to　the　rule　of　his　own　people；　the　enemy　hath　dominion　over　him；　of　his　ignorance。'　And　now　there　is　nothing　for　it　but　to　flee　for　our　lives；　else　shall　we　perish。〃　So　they　took　flight　and　dispersed　to　various　places。

And　we；　O　king；'　continued　the　vizier；　'we　feared　lest　the　like　of　this　befall　us　and　a　king　bee　ruler　over　us；　other　than　thyself；　but　God　hath　vouchsafed　us　this　boon　and　hath　sent　us　this　blessed　child；　and　now　we　are　assured　of　peace　and　union　and　security　and　prosperity　in　the　land。　So　blessed　be　God　the　Great　and　to　Him　be　thanks　and　praise　and　fair　honour！　And　may　He　bless　the　king　and　us　all　his　subjects　and　vouchsafe　unto　us　and　him　the　utmost　felicity　and　make　his　life　happy　and　his　fortune　constant！'

Then　arose　the　sixth　vizier　and　said；　'God　grant　thee　all　felicity；　O　king；　in　this　world　and　the　next！　Verily；　the　ancients　say；　〃He　who　prayeth　and　fasteth　and　giveth　parents　their　due　and　is　just　in　his　rule　meeteth　his　Lord　and　He　is　well　pleased　with　him。〃　Thou　hast　been　set　over　us　and　hast　ruled　us　justly　and　thine　endeavour　in　this　hath　been　blessed；　wherefore　we　beseech　God　the　Most　High　to　make　great　thy　reward　and　requite　thee　thy　goodness。　I　have　heard　what　this　wise　man　hath　said　respecting　our　fear　for　the　loss　of　our　prosperity；　by　reason　of　the　death　of　the　king　or　the　advent　of　another　who　should　not　be　like　him；　and　how　after　him　dissensions　would　be　rife　among　us　and　calamity　betide　thereupon；　and　how　it　behoved　up　therefore　to　be　instant　in　prayer　to　God　the　Most　High；　so　haply　He　might　vouchsafe　the　king　a　happy　son；　to　inherit　the　kingship　after　him。　But；　after　all；　the　issue　of　that　which　man　desireth　of　the　goods　of　the　world　and　after　which　he　lusteth　is　unknown　unto　him；　and　it　behoveth　him　to　ask　not　of　his　Lord　a　thing　whose　issue　he　knoweth　not；　for　that　belike　the　hurt　of　the　thing　is　nearer　to　him　than　its　profit　and　his　destruction　may　be　in　that　he　seeketh　and　there　may　befall　him　what　befell　the　serpentcharmer's　wife　and　children　and　the　people　of　his　house。'　'What　was　that？'　asked　the　king。　'Know；　O　king；'　replied　the　vizier；　'that

　The　Serpentcharmer　and　His　Wife。

There　was　once　a　man；　a　serpentcharmer；　who　used　to　＇catch　and＇　train　serpents；　and　this　was　his　trade；　and　he　had　a　great　basket；　in　which　were　three　snakes；　but　the　people　of　his　house　knew　this　not。　Every　day　he　used　to　take　the　basket　and　go　round　about　the　town　with　it；　gaining　his　living　and　that　of　his　family　＇by　exhibiting　the　snakes＇；　and　at　eventide　he　returned　to　his　house　and　clapped　them　back　into　the　basket　privily。　One　day；　when　he　came　home；　as　of　wont；　his　wife　asked　him　what　was　in　the　basket　and　he　said；　〃What　wouldst　thou　with　it？　Is　not　victual　plentiful　with　you？　Be　content　with　that　which　God　hath　allotted　to　thee　and　enquire　not　of　aught　else。〃　With　this　she　held　her　peace；　but　she　said　in　herself；　〃Needs　must　I　search　the　basket　and　know　what　is　therein。〃　So　she　egged　on　her　children　to　ask　him　of　the　basket　and　importune　him；　till　he　should　tell　them　what　was　therein。　They　concluded　that　it　contained　something　to　eat　and　sought　every　day　of　their　father　that　he　should　show　them　what　was　in　it；　and　he　still　put　them　off　and　forbade　them　from　asking　this。

On　this　wise　they　abode　awhile；　till　they　agreed　with　their　mother　that　they　would　neither　eat　nor　drink　with　their　father；　till　he　granted　them　their　prayer　and　opened　the　basket　to　them。　One　night；　the　serpentcharmer　came　home　with　great　plenty　of　meat　and　drink　and　called　them　to　eat　with　him；　but　they　refused　and　showed　him　anger；　whereupon　he　began　to　coax　them　with　fair　words；　saying；　〃Tell　me　what　you　would　have；　that　I　may　bring　it　you；　be　it　meat　or　drink　or　clothes。〃　〃O　our　father；〃　answered　they；　〃we　want　nothing　of　thee　but　that　thou　open　this　basket　and　show　us　what　is　therein：　else　we　will　kill　ourselves。〃　〃O　my　children；〃　rejoined　he；　〃there　is　nothing　good　for　you　therein　and　indeed　the　opening　of　it　will　be　hurtful　to　you。〃　They　only　redoubled　in　despite　for　all　he　could　say；　which　when　he　saw；　he　began　to　berate　them　and　threaten　them　with　beating；　except　they　left　this；　but　they　redoubled　in　anger　and　persistence　in　asking；　till　at　last　he　waxed　wroth　and　took　a　stick　to　beat　them；　and　they　fled　from　him　within　the　house。

Now　the　basket　was　present　and　he　had　not　hidden　it　anywhere；　so　his　wife　left　him　occupied　with　the　children　and　opened　the　basket　in　haste；　that　she　might　see　what　was　therein；　whereupon　the　serpents　came　out　and　bit　her　and　killed　her。　Then　they　went　round　about　the　house　and　killed　all；　great　and　small；　who　were　therein；　except　the　serpentcharmer；　who　left　the　place　and　went　away。　If　then；　O　august　king；'　continued　the　vizier；　'thou　consider　this；　thou　wilt　know　that　it　is　not　for　a　man　to　desire　aught　but　that　which　God　the　Most　High　refuseth　not　to　him；　nay；　he　should　be　content　with　what　He　willeth。　And　thou；　O　king；　for　the　abundance　of　thy　wisdom　and　the　excellence　of　thine　understanding；　God　hath　solaced　thine　eyes　with　the　advent　of　this　thy　son；　after　despair；　and　hath　forted　thine　heart；　wherefore　we　pray　God　to　make　him　of　the　just　kings；　acceptable　to　Himself　and　to　his　subjects。'

Then　rose　the　seventh　vizier　and　said；　'O　king；　I　know　and　endorse　all　that　my　brethren；　these　wise　and　learned　viziers；　have　said　of　thy　justice　and　the　goodness　of　thy　policy　and　how　thou　art　distinguished　in　this　from　all　other　kings；　wherefore　they　gave　thee　the　preference　over　them。　Indeed；　this　is　of　that　which　is　incumbent　on　us；　O　king；　and　I　say；　〃Praised　be　God　for　that　He　hath　guerdoned　thee　with　His　bounty　and　vouchsafed　thee；　of　His　mercy；　the　welfare　of　the　realm　and　succoured　us　and　thee；　on　condition　that　we　abound　in　gratitude　to　Him；　and　all　this　no　otherwise　than　by　thine　existence！〃　What　while　thou　remainest　to　us；　we　fear　not　oppression　neither　dread　unright；　nor　can　any　take　advantage　of　our　weakness；　and　indeed　it　is　said；　〃The　greatest　good　of　a　a　people　is　a　just　king　and　their　greatest　evil　an　unjust　one；〃　and　again；　〃Better　dwell　with　devouring　lions　than　with　an　unjust　Sultan。〃　So　praised　be　God　the　Most　High　with　eternal　praise　for　that　He　hath　blessed　us　with　thy　life　and　vouchsafed　thee　this　blessed　child；　whenas　thou　wast　stricken　in　years　and　hadst　despaired　of　issue！　For　the　goodliest　of　the　gifts　of　the　world　is　a　virtuous　child；　and　it　is　said；　〃He　who　hath　no　child；　＇his　life＇　is　without　result　and　he　hath　no　remembrance。〃

As　for　thee；　because　of　the　righteousness　of　thy　justice　and　thy　pious　confidence　in　God　the　Most　High；　thou　hast　been　vouchsafed　this　happy　son；　yea；　this　blessed　child　eth　as　a　gift　from　the　Most　High　God　to　us　and　to　thee；　for　the　excellence　of　thy　governance　and　the　goodliness　of　thy　patience；　and　in　this　thou　hast　fared　even　as　fared　the　spider　with　the　wind。'　'And　what　is　the　story　of　the　spider　and　the　wind？'　asked　the　king。　'Know；　O　king；'　answered　the　vizier；　'that　

　The　Spider　and　the　Wind。

A　spider　once　took　up　her　abode　on　a　high　retired　gate　and　span　her　web　there　and　dwelt　therein　in　peace；　giving　thanks　to　God　the　Most　High；　who　had　made　this　dwellingplace　easy　to　her　and　had　set　her　in　safety　from　noxious　reptiles。　On　this　wise　she　abode　awhile；　still　giving　thanks　to　God　for　her　ease　and　sustenance；　till　the　Creator　bethought　Him　to　try　her　and　make　essay　of　her　gratitude　and　patience。　So　he　sent　upon　her　a　strong　northeast　wind；　which　carried　her　away；　web　and　all；　and　cast　her　into　the　sea。　The　waves　bore　her　ashore　and　she　thanked　God　for　safety　and　began　to　upbraid　the　wind；　saying；　〃O　wind；　why　hast　thou　dealt　thus　with　me　and　what　good　hast　thou　gotten　by　carrying　me　hither　from　my　abidingplace；　where　indeed　I　was　in　safety；　secure　in　my　house　on　the　top　of　the　gate？'　'Leave　thy　chiding；〃　replied　the　wind；　〃for　I　will　carry　thee　back　and　restore　thee　to　thy　place；　as　thou　wast　aforetime。〃

So　the　spider　waited　patiently；　till　the　northeast　wind　left　blowing　and　there　arose　a　southwest　wind；　which　caught　her　up　and　flew　with　her　towards　her　dwelling　place；　and　when　she　came　to　her　abode；　she　knew　it　and　clung　to　it。　And　we；'　continued　the　vizier；　'beseech　God　（who　hath　rewarded　the　king　for　his　singleness　of　heart　and　pa