一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第50部分

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er；　and　Aboukir　went　on　to　name　the　different　colours　to　him；　one　after　another；　till　the　dyer　said；　'We　are　here　in　this　city　forty　masterdyers；　neither　more　nor　less；　and　when　one　of　us　dies；　we　teach　his　son　the　craft。　If　he　leave　no　son；　we　abide　wanting　one；　and　if　he　leave　two　sons；　we　teach　one　of　them　the　craft；　and　if　he　die；　we　teach　his　brother。　This　our　craft　is　straitly　ordered　and　we　know　not　how　to　dye　aught　but　blue。'

Then　said　Aboukir；　'Know　that　I　also　am　a　dyer　and　know　how　to　dye　all　colours；　and　I　would　have　thee　take　me　into　thy　service　on　hire；　and　I　will　teach　thee　my　art；　so　thou　mayst　glory　therein　over　all　the　pany　of　dyers。'　But　the　dyer　answered；　'We　never　admit　a　stranger　into　our　craft。'　'And　what　if　I　open　a　dyery　for　myself？'　asked　Aboukir。　'We　will　not　suffer　thee　to　do　that；'　replied　the　other；　whereupon　he　left　him　and　going　to　a　second　dyer；　made　him　the　like　proposal；　but　he　returned　him　the　same　answer　as　the　first；　and　he　ceased　not　to　go　from　one　to　another；　till　he　had　made　the　round　of　the　whole　forty；　but　they　would　not　accept　of　him　either　to　master　or　journeyman。　Then　he　repaired　to　the　Syndic　of　the　Dyers　and　told　him　what　had　passed；　and　he　said；　'We　admit　no　stranger　into　our　craft。'

With　this　Aboukir　became　exceeding　wroth　and　going　up　to　the　king　of　the　city；　made　plaint　to　him；　saying；　'O　king　of　the　age；　I　am　a　stranger　and　a　dyer　by　trade；'　and　he　told　him　what　had　passed　between　himself　and　the　dyers　of　the　town；　adding；　'I　can　dye　various　kinds　of　red；　such　as　rosecolour　and　carnation；　（189）　and　various　kinds　of　green；　such　as　grassgreen　and　pistachiogreen　and　olive　and　parrot's　wing；　and　various　kinds　of　black；　such　as　coalblack　and　blueblack；　and　various　shades　of　yellow；　such　as　orange　and　lemoncolour；'　and　went　on　to　name　to　him　the　rest　of　the　colours。　Then　said　he；　'O　king　of　the　age；　there　is　not　a　dyer　in　thy　city　who　can　avail　to　any　one　of　these　colours；　for　they　know　not　how　to　dye　aught　but　blue；　yet　will　they　not　admit　me　amongst　them；　either　as　master　or　journeyman。'　'Thou　sayst　sooth　for　that　matter；'　answered　the　king；　'but　I　will　open　thee　a　dyery　and　give　thee　capital　and　have　thou　no　care　for　them；　for　whoso　offereth　to　do　thee　hindrance；　I　will　hang　him　over　the　door　of　his　shop。

Then　he　sent　for　builders　and　said　to　them；　'Go　round　about　the　city　with　this　master；　and　whatsoever　place　pleases　him；　be　it　shop　or　khan　or　what　not；　turn　out　its　occupier　and　build　him　a　dyery　after　his　wish。　Whatsoever　he　bids　you；　that　do　ye　and　gainsay　him　not　in　aught。'　And　he　clad　him　in　a　handsome　suit　and　gave　him　two　white　slaves；　to　serve　him；　and　a　horse　with　housings　of　brocade　and　a　thousand　dinars；　saying；　'Provide　thyself　with　this；　against　the　building　be　pleted。'　So　Aboukir　donned　the　dress　and　mounting　the　horse；　became　as　he　were　an　amir。　Moreover　the　king　assigned　him　a　house　and　bade　furnish　it；　so　they　furnished　it　for　him　and　he　took　up　his　abode　therein。

On　the　morrow　he　mounted　and　rode　through　the　city；　looking　about　him；　whilst　the　architects　went　before　him；　till　he　saw　a　place　that　pleased　him　and　said；　'This　place　is　good；'　whereupon　they　turned　out　the　owner　thereof　and　carried　him　to　the　king；　who　gave　him；　to　the　price　of　his　holding；　what　more　than　contented　him。　Then　the　builders　fell　to　work；　whilst　Aboukir　said　to　them；　'Build　thus　and　thus　and　do　this　and　that；'　till　they　built　him　a　dyery　that　had　not　its　like；　whereupon　he　presented　himself　before　the　king　and　informed　him　that　they　had　made　an　end　of　building　the　dyery　and　that　there　needed　but　the　price　of　the　dyestuffs　and　gear　to　set　it　awork。　Quoth　the　king；　'Take　these　four　thousand　dinars　to　thy　capital　and　let　me　see　the　oute　of　thy　dyery。'　So　he　took　the　money　and　went　to　the　market；　where；　finding　dyestuffs　（190）　plentiful　and　＇wellnigh＇　valueless；　he　bought　all　that　he　needed　of　materials　for　dyeing；　and　the　king　sent　him　five　hundred　pieces　of　stuff；　which　he　proceeded　to　dye　of　all　colours　and　spread　them　before　the　door　of　his　dyery。

When　the　folk　passed　by　the　shop；　they　saw　this　wonderful　sight；　whose　like　they　had　never　in　their　lives　seen；　so　they　crowded　about　the　door；　staring　and　questioning　the　dyer　and　saying；　'O　master；　what　are　tne　names　of　these　colours？'　Quoth　he；　'This　is　red　and　that　yellow　and　the　other　green；'　and　so　on　with　the　rest　of　the　colours。　And　they　fell　to　bringing　him　stuffs　and　saying　to　him；　'Dye　this　for　us　like　this　and　that　and　take　what　thou　seekest　＇to　thy　hire＇。'　When　he　had　made　an　end　of　dyeing　the　king's　stuffs；　he　took　them　and　went　up　with　them　to　the　divan；　and　when　the　king　saw　them　he　rejoiced　in　them　and　bestowed　abundant　largesse　on　the　dyer。　Moreover；　all　the　troops　brought　him　stuffs；　saying；　'Dye　for　us　thus　and　thus；'　and　he　dyed　for　them　to　their　wish；　and　they　threw　him　gold　and　silver。　On　this　wise　his　fame　spread　abroad　and　his　shop　was　called　the　Sultan's　dyery。　Good　came　in　to　him　at　every　door　and　he　became　the　owner　of　slaves；　male　and　female；　and　amassed　store　of　wealth。　None　of　the　other　dyers　dared　say　a　word　to　him；　but　they　used　to　e　to　him；　kissing　his　hands　and　excusing　themselves　to　him　for　the　affronts　they　had　done　him　aforetime　and　offering　themselves　to　him　as　journeymen；　but　he　would　none　of　them。

Meanwhile　Abousir　abode　three　days；　prostrate　and　unconscious；　in　the　chamber　where　Aboukir　had　left　him；　at　the　end　of　which　time　the　doorkeeper　of　the　khan；　chancing　to　look　at　the　chamberdoor；　observed　that　it　was　shut　and　bethought　himself　that　he　had　seen　and　heard　nothing　of　the　two　panions　＇for　some　time＇。　So　he　said　to　himself；　'Belike　they　have　made　oft；　without　paying　the　rent　of　the　chamber；　or　perhaps　they　are　dead；　or　what　is　to　do　with　them？'　And　he　waited　till　sunset；　when　he　went　up　to　the　chamberdoor　and　heard　the　barber　groaning　within。　He　saw　the　key　in　the　lock；　so　he　opened　the　door　and　entering；　found　Abousir　lying；　groaning；　and　said　to　him；　'No　harm　to　thee：　where　is　thy　friend？'　'By　Allah；'　answered　Abousir；　'I　only　came　to　my　senses　this　day　and　called　out；　but　none　answered　me。　God　on　thee；　O　my　brother；　look　for　the　purse　under　my　head　and　take　five　paras　from　it　and　buy　me　something　to　eat；　for　I　am　sore　anhungred。'

The　porter　put　out　his　hand　and　taking　the　purse；　found　it　empty　and　said　to　the　barber；　'The　purse　is　empty；　there　is　nothing　in　it。'　Whereupon　Abousir　knew　that　the　dyer　had　taken　that　which　was　therein　and　fled　and　said　to　the　porter；　'Hast　thou　not　seen　my　friend？'　'I　have　not　seen　him　these　three　days；'　answered　the　porter；　'and　indeed　methought　you　had　departed；　thou　and　he。'　'Not　no；'　said　Ahousir；　'but　he　coveted　my　money　and　seeing　me　sick；　took　it　and　fled。'　Then　he　fell　aweeping　and　lamenting；　but　the　porter　said　to　him；　'No　harm　shall　e　to　thee；　and　God　　his　deed。'　So　saying；　he　went　away　and　cooked　him　a　mess　of　broth；　whereof　he　ladled　out　a　platterful　and　brought　it　to　him；　nor　did　he　cease　to　tend　him　and　maintain　him　with　his　own　monies　for　two　months'　space；　at　the　end　of　which　time　he　sweated　and　God　made　him　whole　of　his　sickness。　Then　he　stood　up　and　said　to　the　porter；　'So　God　the　Most　High　enable　me；　I　will　surely　requite　thee　thy　kindness　to　me；　but　none　requiteth　save　God　of　His　bounty！'　Praised　be　He　for　thy　recovery！'　answered　the　porter。　'I　dealt　not　thus　with　thee　but　of　desire　for　the　favour　of　God　the　Bountiful。'

Then　the　barber　went　forth　of　the　khan　and　walked　about　the　markets　of　the　town；　till　chance　brought　him　to　that　wherein　was　Aboukir's　dyery；　and　he　saw　the　varicoloured　stuffs　spread　before　the　shop　and　the　people　crowding　to　look　upon　them。　So　he　questioned　one　of　the　townsmen　and　said　to　him；　'What　place　is　this　and　how　es　it　that　I　see　the　folk　crowding　together？'　And　the　man　answered；　saying；　'This　is　the　Sultan's　dyery；　which　he　set　up　for　a　foreigner；　by　name　Aboukir；　and　whenever　he　dyes　a　＇new＇　piece　of　stuff　we　all　flock　to　him　and　divert　ourselves　by　gazing　upon　his　handiwork；　for　that　we　have　no　dyers　in　our　land　who　know　how　to　dye　these　colours；　and　indeed　there　befell　him　with　the　dyers　who　are　in　the　city　thus　and　thus。'　And　he　went　on　to　tell　him　all　that　had　passed　between　Aboukir　and　the　dyers　and　how　he　had　plained　of　them　to　the　sultan　and　he　had　taken　him　by　the　hand　and　built　him　that　dyery　and　given　him　this　and　that；　brief；　he　told　him　all　that　had　passed。

At　this　the　barber　rejoiced　and　said　to　himself；　'Praised　be　God　who　hath　prospered　him；　so　that　he　is　bee　a　master　of　his　craft！　Indeed；　the　man　is　excusable；　for　of　a　surety　he　hath　been　diverted　from　thee　by　his　work　and　hath　fotten　thee；　but　thou　didst　him　kindness　and　entreatedst　him　generously；　what　time　he　was　out　of　work；　so；　when　he　seeth　thee；　he　will　rejoice　in　thee　and　entreat　thee　generously；　even　as　thou　entreatedst　him。'　So　he　made　for　the　door　of　the　dyery　and　saw　Aboukir　seated　on　a　high　divan　in　the　doorway；　clad　in　royal　apparel　and　attended　by　four　black　and　four　white　slaves　all　dressed　in　the　richest　of　clothes。　Moreover；　he　saw　the　workmen；　ten　black　slaves；　standing　at　work；　for；　when　Aboukir　bought　them；　he　taught　them　the　craft　of　dyeing；　and　he　himself　sat　amongst　his　cushions；　as　he　were　a　grand　vizier　or　a　most　mighty　king；　putting　his　hand　to　nought；　but　only　saying　to　the　men；　'Do　this　and　do　that。'

The　barber　went　up　to　him　and　stood　before　him；　doubting　not　but　that；　when　he　saw　him；　he　would　rejoice　in　him　and　salute　him　and　entreat　him　with　honour　and　make　much　of　him；　but；　when　eye　met　eye；　the　dyer　said　to　him；　'O　rascal；　how　many　a　time　have　I　bidden　thee　stand　not　at　the　door　of　this　workshop？　Hast　thou　a　mind　to　disgrace　me　with　the　folk；　knave　that　thou　art？'　＇And　he　cried　out；　saying＇；　'Seize　him！'　So　the　slave。　ran　at　him　and　laid　hold　of　him；　and　the　dyer　said；　'Throw　him　down。'　So　they　threw　him　down　and　Aboukfr　rose　and　taking　a　stick；　dealt　him　a　hundred　blows　on　the　back；　after　which　they　turned　him　over　and　he　dealt　him　other　hundred　on　his　belly。　Then　he　said　to　him；　'Hark　ye；　scurril　knave　that　thou　art！　If　ever　again　I　see　thee　standing　at　the　door　of　this　dyery；　I　will　forthwith　send　thee　to　the　king；　and　he　will　mit　thee　to　the　master　of　police；　that　he　may　strike　off　thy　head。　Begone；　may　God　not　bless　thee！'

So　Abousir　＇arose　and＇　departed　from　him；　brokenhearted　by　reason　of　the　beating　and　humiliation　that　had　betided　him；　whilst　the　bystanders　said　to　Aboukir；　'What　hath　this　man　done？'　Quoth　he；　'He　is　a　thief；　who　steals　the　people's　goods：　he　hath　robbed　me　of　stuffs；　how　many　a　time！　and　I　still　said　in　myself；　〃God　five　him！　He　is　a　poor　man；〃　and　cared　not　to　deal　harshly　with　him；　so　I　used　to　give　the　folk　the　worth　of　their　goods　and　forbid　him　gently；　but　he　would　not　be　forbidden；　and　if　he　e　again；　I　will　send　him　to　the　king；　who　will　put　him　to　death　and　rid　the　folk　of　his　mischief。'　And　the　bystanders　fell　to　reviling　the　barber　in　his　absence。

Meanwhile；　the　latter　returned　to　the　khan；　where　he　sat　pondering　that　which　Aboukir　had　done　with　him；　till　the　pain　of　the　beating　subsided；　when　he　went　out　and　walked　about　the　markets　of　the　city。　Presently；　he　bethought　him　to　go　to　the　bath；　so　he　said　to　one　of　the　townsfolk；　'O　my　brother；　which　is　the　way　to　the