一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第44部分

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en　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　that

　The　Heathcock　and　the　Tortoises。

A　number　of　tortoises　dwelt　once　in　a　certain　island；　abounding　in　trees　and　fruits　and　streams；　and　it　chanced；　one　day；　that　a　heathcock　passing　over　the　island；　was　overe　with　heat　and　weariness　and　stayed　his　flight　there。　Presently；　looking　about　for　a　cool　place；　he　espied　the　resort　of　the　tortoises　and　lighted　down　therein。　Now　they　were　then　abroad　in　quest　of　food　and　when　they　returned　from　their　feedingplaces　to　their　dwelling；　they　found　the　heathcock　there。　His　beauty　pleased　them　and　God　made　him　fair　in　their　eyes；　so　that　they　extolled　their　Creator　and　loved　the　heathcock　with　an　exceeding　love　and　rejoiced　in　him；　saying　one　to　another；　〃Assuredly　this　is　of　the　goodliest　of　the　birds。〃　And　they　began　to　caress　him　and　entreat　him　with　kindness。　When　he　saw　that　they　looked　on　him　with　eyes　of　affection；　he　inclined　to　them　and　made　friends　with　them　and　took　up　his　abode　with　them；　Eying　away　in　the　morning　whither　he　would　and　returning　at　eventide　to　pass　the　night　with　them。

After　awhile；　the　tortoises；　seeing　that　his　＇daylong＇　absence　from　them　desolated　them　and　finding　that　they　saw　him　not　but　by　night；　（for　at　break　of　day　he　still　took　flight　in　haste　and　they　knew　not　what　came　of　him；　for　all　their　love　to　him；）　said　to　each　other；　〃Indeed；　we　love　this　heathcock　and　he　is　bee　our　friend　and　we　cannot　brook　parting　from　him；　so　how　shall　we　do　to　make　him　abide　with　us　always？　For　he　flies　away　at　daybreak　and　is　absent　from　us　all　day　and　we　see　him　not　save　by　night。〃　Quoth　one　of　them；　〃Be　easy；　O　my　sisters。　I　will　bring　him　not　to　leave　us　for　the　twinkling　of　an　eye。〃　And　the　rest　answered；　saying；　〃An　thou　do　this；　we　will　all　be　thy　slaves。〃

So；　when　the　heathcock　came　back　from　his　feedingplace　and　sat　down　amongst　them；　the　wily　tortoise　drew　near　unto　him　and　called　down　blessings　on　him；　giving　him　joy　of　his　safe　return　and　saying；　〃O　my　lord；　know　that　God　hath　vouchsafed　thee　our　love　and　hath　in　like　manner　set　in　thy　heart　the　love　of　us；　so　that　thou　art　bee　to　us　a　familiar　friend　and　a　rade　in　this　desert　place。　Now　the　goodliest　of　times　for　those　who　love　each　other　is　when　they　are　in　pany　and　the　sorest　of　afflictions　for　them　is　absence　and　separation。　But　thou　leavest　us　at　peep　of　day　and　returnest　not　to　us　till　sundown；　wherefore　there　betideth　us　sore　desolation。　Indeed　this　is　exceeding　grievous　unto　us　and　we　abide　in　sore　longing　by　reason　thereof。〃

〃Indeed；〃　answered　the　bird；　〃I　love　you　also　and　yearn　for　you　yet　more　than　you　for　me；　nor　is　it　easy　for　me　to　leave　you；　but　I　have　no　help　for　this；　seeing　that　I　am　a　bird　with　wings　and　may　not　abide　with　you　always；　because　that　is　not　of　my　nature。　For　a　bird；　being　a　winged　creature；　may　not　remain　still；　except　it　be　for　the　sake　of　sleep　at　night；　but；　as　soon　as　it　is　day；　he　flies　away　and　seeks　his　food　in　what　place　soever　pleases　him。〃　〃True；〃　answered　the　tortoise。　〃Nevertheless　he　who　hath　wings　hath　no　repose　at　most　seasons；　for　that　the　good　he　getteth　is　not　a　fourth　part　of　the　trouble　that　betideth　him；　and　the　best　of　all　the　things　for　which　one　striveth　is　ease　of　life　and　contentment。　Now　God　hath　appointed　love　and　fellowship　between　us　and　thee　and　we　fear　for　thee；　lest　some　of　thine　enemies　catch　thee　and　thou　perish　and　we　be　denied　the　sight　of　thy　face。〃　〃Thou　sayst　sooth；〃　rejoined　the　heathcock；　〃but　how　dost　thou　counsel　me　to　do？〃　Quoth　the　tortoise；　〃My　advice　is　that　thou　pluck　out　thy　wing　feathers；　wherewith　thou　speedest　thy　flight；　and　abide　with　us　in　peace；　eating　of　our　meat　and　drinking　of　our　drink　in　this　pasturage；　that　aboundeth　in　trees　laden　with　ripe　fruits；　and　thou　and　we；　we　will　sojourn　in　this　fruitful　place　and　enjoy　each　other's　pany。〃

The　heathcock　inclined　to　her　speech；　seeking　ease　for　himself；　and　plucked　out　his　wingfeathers；　one　by　one；　in　accordance　with　the　tortoise's　counsel；　then　he　took　up　his　abode　with　them　and　contented　himself　with　the　little　ease　and　passing　pleasure　he　enjoyed。　Presently　up　came　a。　weasel　and　looking　at　the　heathcock；　saw　that　his　wings　were　plucked　so　that　he　could　not　fly；　whereat　he　was　mightily　rejoiced　and　said　in　himself；　〃Verily　yonder　heathcock　is　fat　and　scant　of　feather。〃　So　he　went　up　to　him　and　seized　him；　whereupon　the　heathcock　called　out　to　the　tortoises　for　help；　but；　when　they　saw　the　weasel　seize　him；　they　drew　apart　from　him　and　huddled　together；　choked　with　weeping　for　him；　for　they　saw　the　beast　torture　him。　Quoth　the　heathcock；　〃Is　there　aught　but　weeping　with　you？〃　And　they　answered；　saying；　〃O　our　brother；　we　have　neither　strength　nor　power　nor　resource　against　a　weasel。〃　At　this　the　heathcock　was　grieved　and　gave　up　hope　of　life；　and　he　said　to　them；　〃The　fault　is　not　yours；　but　mine　own；　in　that　I　hearkened　to　you　and　plucked　out　my　wingfeathers；　wherewith　I　used　to　fly。　Indeed；　I　deserve　death　for　having　hearkened　to　you；　and　I　blame　you　not　in　aught。〃

On　like　wise；'　continued　the　king；　'I　do　not　blame　you；　O　women；　but　I　blame　and　reproach　myself　for　that　I　remembered　not　that　ye　were　the　cause　of　the　transgression　of　our　father　Adam；　by　reason　whereof　he　was　cast　out　from　Paradise；　but　fot　that　ye　are　the　root　of　all　evil　and　hearkened　to　you；　of　my　ignorance　and　folly　and　lack　of　sense　and　judgment；　and　slew　my　viziers　and　the　governors　of　my　state；　who　were　my　loyal　counsellors　in　all　things　and　my　glory　and　my　strength　against　whatsoever　troubled　me。　Now　find　I　not　one　to　replace　them　and　see　none　who　shall　stand　me　in　their　stead；　and　except　God　succour　me　with　one　of　sound　judgment；　who　shall　guide　me　to　that　wherein　is　my　deliverance；　I　am　fallen　into　sheer　perdition。'　Then　he　arose　and　withdrew　into　his　bedchamber；　bemoaning　his　viziers　and　governors　and　saying；　'Would　God　those　lions　were　with　me；　though　but　for　an　hour；　so　I　might　excuse　myself　unto　them　and　look　on　them　and　make　my　moan　to　them　of　my　case　and　that　which　hath　betided　me　after　them！'　And　he　abode　all　that　day　sunken　in　the　sea　of　troublous　thought；　eating　not　neither　drinking。

When　the　night　came；　he　arose　and　changing　his　raiment；　donned　old　clothes　and　disguised　himself　and　went　forth　at　a　venture　to　walk　about　the　city；　so　haply　he　might　hear　some　fortable　word。　As　he　wandered　about　the　streets；　he　chanced　upon　two　boys　of　equal　age；　each　about　twelve　years　old；　who　sat　talking　under　a　wall：　so　he　drew　near　them　whereas　he　might　hear　and　apprehend　what　they　said；　unseen　of　them；　and　heard　one　say　to　the　other；　'O　my　brother；　hear　what　my　father　told　me　yesternight　of　the　calamity　that　hath　betided　him　in　the　withering　of　his　crops；　before　their　time；　by　reason　of　the　lack　of　rain　and　the　great　affliction　that　is　fallen　on　this　city。'　Quoth　the　other；　'Knowst　thou　not　the　cause　of　this　affliction？'　'Not　I；'　answered　the　first。　'I　prithee；　tell　it　me；　if　thou　know　it。'　'Yes；'　rejoined　the　second；　'I　know　it　and　will　tell　it　thee。　Know　that　I　have　heard　from　one　of　my　father's　friends　that　our　king　put　his　viziers　and　ministers　to　death；　without　offence　done　of