一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第42部分

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　pleasure；　whose　end　is　corruption　and　whose　inclining　is　unto　sore　and　uttermost　perdition。'

When　the　king　heard　this；　he　said　to　Shimas；　'Tomorrow　I　will　e　forth　to　them；　if　it　be　the　will　of　God　the　Most　High。'　So　Shimas　returned　to　the　grandees　and　notables　who　were　present　and　told　them　what　the　king　had　said。　But　this　came　to　the　ears　of　the　favourite；　so　she　went　in　to　the　king　and　said　to　him；　'A　king's　subjects　should　be　his　slaves；　but　thou　art　bee　a　slave　to　thy　subjects；　for　that　thou　standest　in　awe　of　them　and　fearest　their　mischief。　They　do　but　seek　to　make　proof　of　thy　temper；　and　if　they　find　thee　weak　they　will　disdain　thee；　but；　if　they　find　thee　stout　and　brave　they　will　stand　in　awe　of　thee。　On　this　wise　do　ill　viziers　with　their　king；　for　that　their　wiles　are　many：　but　I　will　make　manifest　unto　thee　the　truth　of　their　malice。　If　thou　fall　in　with　their　demands；　they　will　cause　thee　leave　thy　mandment　and　do　their　will；　nor　will　they　cease　to　lead　thee　on　from　affair　to　affair　till　they　cast　thee　into　destruction；　and　thy　case　will　be　as　that　of　the　merchant　and　the　thieves。'　'How　was　that？'　asked　the　king；　and　she　answered；　'I　have　heard　tell　that

　The　Merchant　and　the　Thieves。

There　was　once　a　wealthy　merchant；　who　set　out　for　a　certain　city　with　merchandise；　purposing　to　sell　it　there；　and　when　he　came　thither；　he　hired　a　lodging　there　and　took　up　his　abode　therein。　Now　certain　thieves　saw　him；　who　were　wont　to　lie　in　wait　for　merchants；　that　they　might　steal　their　goods；　so　they　went　to　his　house　and　cast　about　to　enter　in；　but　could　find　no　way　thereto；　and　their　captain　said；　〃I　will　acplish　you　his　affair。〃　Then　he　went　away　and　donning　a　physician's　habit；　threw　over　his　shoulder　a　bag　containing　medicines；　with　which　he　set　out；　crying；　〃Who　lacks　a　doctor？〃　and　fared　on　till　he　came　to　the　merchant's　lodging　and　saw　him　sitting　eating　the　morning　meal。　So　he　said　to　him；　〃Dost　thou　want　a　physician？〃　〃Not　I；〃　answered　the　merchant；　〃but　sit　and　eat　with　me。〃　So　the　thief　sat　down　over　against　him　and　began　to　eat。

Now　this　merchant　was　a　great　eater；　and　the　thief；　seeing　this；　said　to　himself；　〃I　have　found　my　opportunity。〃　So　he　turned　to　his　host　and　said　to　him；　〃It　behoveth　me　to　give　thee　an　admonition；　and　after　thy　kindness　to　me；　I　cannot　hide　it　from　thee。　I　see　thee　to　be　a　great　eater　and　the　cause　of　this　is　a　disorder　in　thy　stomach；　so　hasten　to　take　order　for　thy　cure；　or　thine　affair　will　end　in　perdition。'　Quoth　the　merchant；　〃My　body　is　sound　and　my　stomach　quick　of　digestion；　and　though　I　be　a　hearty　eater；　yet　is　there　no　disease　in　me；　to　God　be　the　praise　and　the　thanks！〃　〃It　may　so　appear　unto　thee；〃　rejoined　the　thief；　〃but　I　know　thou　hast　a　latent　disorder　in　thy　vitals　and　if　thou　hearken　to　me；　thou　wilt　medicine　thyself。'　〃And　where　shall　I　find　him　who　knoweth　my　remedy？〃　asked　the　merchant。　〃God　is　the　Healer；〃　answered　the　robber；　〃but　a　physician　like　myself　tendeth　the　sick　to　the　best　of　his　power。〃　And　the　other　said；　〃Show　me　my　remedy　and　give　me　thereof。〃　So　he　gave　him　a　powder；　wherein　was　great　plenty　of　aloes；　saying；　〃Use　this　tonight。〃

When　the　night　came；　the　merchant　tasted　the　powder　and　found　it　nauseous　of　taste；　nevertheless　he　misdoubted　not　of　it；　but　swallowed　it　all　and　found　ease　therefrom　that　night。　Next　night　the　thief　brought　him　another　powder；　wherein　was　yet　more　aloes；　and　he　took　it。　It　purged　him　that　night；　but　he　bore　with　this　and　rejected　it　not。　When　the　thief　saw　that　he　gave　ear　unto　his　word　and　put　trust　in　him；　he　brought　him　a　deadly　drug　and　gave　it　to　him。　The　merchant　swallowed　it　and　no　sooner　had　he　done　this　than　that　which　was　in　his　belly　fell　down　and　his　guts　were　rent　in　sunder；　and　by　the　morrow　he　was　a　dead　man；　whereupon　the　thieves　came　and　took　all　that　belonged　to　him。　This；'　added　the　favourite；　'I　tell　thee；　O　king；　but　that　thou　mayst　not　give　ear　to　these　deluders；　else　will　there　befall　thee　that　whereby　thou　wilt　destroy　thyself。'　〃Thou　sayst　sooth；'　replied　the　king；　'I　will　not　go　forth　to　them。'

On　the　morrow；　the　folk　assembled　together　and　repairing　to　the　king's　door；　sat　there　the　most　part　of　the　day；　till　they　despaired　of　his　ing　forth；　when　they　returned　to　Shimas　and　said　to　him；　'O　sage　philosopher　and　learned　master；　seest　thou　not　that　this　ignorant　boy　doth　but　redouble　in　falsehood　to　us？　Verily　it　were　of　reason　to　take　the　kingdom　from　him　and　give　it　to　another；　so　our　affairs　may　be　set　in　order　and　our　estates　maintained；　but　go　thou　in　to　him　a　third　time　and　tell　him　that　nought　hindereth　us　from　rising　against　him　and　taking　the　kingship　from　him　but　＇the　remembrance＇　of　his　father's　goodness　to　us　and　that　　us　of　oaths　and　engagements　＇with　respect　to　him＇。　However；　tomorrow；　we　will　all；　to　the　last　of　us；　assemble　here　with　our　arms　and　break　down　the　gate　of　the　palace；　and　if　he　e　forth　to　us　and　do　that　which　we　wish；　well　and　good；　else　will　we　go　in　to　him　and　slay　him　and　put　the　kingdom　in　another's　hand。'

So　Shimas　went　in　to　him　and　said；　'O　king；　that　wallowest　in　thy　lusts　and　thy　pleasures；　what　is　this　thou　dost　with　thyself　and　who　promptest　thee　thereunto？　Indeed；　thou　sinnest　against　thyself　and　there　hath　ceased　from　thee　that　which　we　knew　in　thee　aforetime　of　integrity　and　wisdom　and　eloquence。　Would　I　knew　who　hath　thus　changed　thee　and　turned　thee　from　wisdom　to　folly　and　from　fidelity　to　iniquity　and　from　plaisance　to　stiffneckedness　and　from　acceptance　of　me　to　aversion　from　me！　How　es　it　that　I　admonish　thee　thrice　and　thou　neglectest　my　admonition　and　that　I　counsel　thee　justly　and　thou　still　gainsayest　my　counsel？　Tell　me；　what　is　this　heedlessness　and　folly　and　who　is　it　prompteth　thee　thereunto？　Know　that　the　people　of　thy　kingdom　have　agreed　together　to　e　in　to　thee　and　slay　thee　and　give　thy　kingdom　to　another。　Art　thou　able　to　cope　with　them　all　and　save　thyself　from　their　hands　or　canst　thou　quicken　thyself　after　slaughter？　If；　indeed；　thou　availest　to　do　all　this；　thou　art　safe　and　hast　no　occasion　for　my　rede；　but；　if　thou　have　any　concern　for　thy　life　and　thy　kingship；　return　to　thy　senses　and　hold　fast　thy　kingdom　and　show　forth　to　the　people　the　power　of　thy　prowess　and　acquaint　the　folk　with　thine　excuse；　for　they　are　minded　to　tear　away　that　which　is　in　thy　hand　and　mit　it　unto　another；　being　resolved　upon　revolt　and　rebellion；　impelled　thereto　by　that　which　they　know　of　thy　youth　and　thy　surrender　of　thyself　to　lusts　and　voluptuousness；　for　that　stones；　albeit　they　lie　long　in　water；　if　thou　take　them　out　therefrom　and　smite　one　upon　another；　fire　will　be　struck　from　them。　Now　thy　subjects　are　many　in　number　and　they　have　taken　counsel　together　against　thee；　to　transfer　the　kingship　from　thee　to　another　and　acplish　upon　thee　that　which　they　desire　of　thy　destruction。　So　shalt　thou　fare　as　did　the　wolf　with　the　foxes　and　the　lion。'　'How　was　that？'　asked　the　king；　and　the　vizier　answered；　'They　say　that

　The　Foxes　and　the　Wolf。

A　troop　of　foxes　went　out　one　day　to　seek　food；　and　as　they　coasted　about　in　quest　of　this；　they　happened　upon　a　dead　camel　and　said　to　each　other；　〃Verily　we　have　found　wherewithal　we　may　live　a　great　while；　but　we　fear　lest　one　of　us　oppress　other　and　the　strong　overbear　the　weak　with　his　strength；　and　so　the　weak　of　us　perish；　wherefore　it　behoveth　us　seek　one　who　shall　judge　between　us　and　appoint　unto　each　his　part；　so　the　strong　may　not　lord　it　over　the　weak。〃　As　they　consulted　together；　up　came　a　wolf；　and　some　of　the　foxes　said　to　the　others；　〃Your　counsel　is　just；　let　us　make　this　wolf　judge　between　us；　for　he　is　the　strongest　of　beasts　and　his　father　was　sultan　over　us　aforetime；　wherefore　we　hope　in　God　that　he　will　do　justice　between　us。〃　So　they　accosted　the　　with　their　determination；　said　to　him；　〃We　make　thee　judge　between　us；　so　thou　mayst　allot　unto　each　of　us　his　day's　meat；　after　the　measure　of　his　need；　lest　the　strong　of　us　overbear　the　weak　and　some　of　us　destroy　other　some。〃

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