一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第53部分

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。　It　was　this　ring　that　gave　him　authority　over　the　troops；　nor　did　he　overe　the　mighty　save　by　means　thereof；　so；　when　it　dropped　from　his　finger；　he　concealed　the　matter　and　kept　silence；　for　that　he　dared　not　say；　'My　ring　is　fallen　into　the　sea；'　for　fear　of　the　troops；　lest　they　should　rise　against　him　and　slay　him。

Meanwhile；　Abousir　cast　the　　into　the　sea　and　drew　it　up　full　of　fish。　Then　he　cast　it　again　and　it　came　up　full　of　fish；　nor　did　he　cease　to　cast　it　and　pull　it　up　full；　till　there　was　a　great　heap　of　fish　before　him。　So　he　said　to　himself；　'By　Allah；　I　have　not　eaten　fish　this　long　while！'　And　chose　himself　a　large　fat　fish；　saying；　'When　the　captain　es　back；　I　will　bid　him　fry　it　for　me；　so　I　may　make　the　morning　meal　of　it。'　Then　he　cut　its　throat　with　a　knife　he　had　with　him；　but　the　knife　stuck　in　its　gills　and　there　he　saw　the　king's　sealring；　for　the　fish　had　swallowed　it　and　destiny　had　driven　it　to　the　island；　where　it　had　fallen　into　the　。　So　he　took　the　ring　and　put　it　on　his　little　finger；　not　knowing　its　properties。　Presently；　up　came　two　of　the　cook's　underlings　in　quest　of　fish　and　seeing　Abousir；　said　to　him；　'O　man；　whither　is　the　captain　gone？'　'I　know　not；'　answered　he　and　signed　to　them　with　his　right　hand；　when；　behold；　their　heads　dropped　from　their　shoulders。

At　this　Abousir　was　amazed　and　said；　'I　wonder　who　slew　them！'　And　their　case　was　grievous　to　him　and　he　was　still　musing　upon　it；　when　the　captain　returned　and　seeing　the　two　men　lying　dead　and　the　ring　on　Abousir's　finger；　said　to　him；　'O　my　brother；　move　not　thy　hand　whereon　is　the　ring；　else　thou　wilt　slay　me。'　Abousir　wondered　at　this　speech　and　the　captain　ing　up　to　him；　said；　'Who　slew　these　two　men？'　'By　Allah；　O　my　brother；'　answered　the　barber；　'I　know　not！'　'Thou　sayst　sooth；'　rejoined　the　captain；　'but　tell　me　whence　hadst　thou　that　ring？'　Quoth　Abousir；　'I　found　it　in　this　fish's　gills。'　'　True；'　said　the　captain；　'for　I　saw　it　fall　flashing　from　the　king's　palace　and　disappear　in　the　sea；　what　time　he　signed　toward　＇the　sack　in　which　he　deemed＇　thee　＇to　be＇；　saying；　〃Cast　him　in。〃　So　I　cast　the　sack　into　the　water；　and　it　was　then　that　the　ring　slipped　from　his　finger　and　fell　into　the　sea；　where　the　fish　swallowed　it；　and　God　drove　it　to　thee；　so　that　thou　tookest　it；　for　this　ring　was　thy　lot；　but　knowest　thou　its　property？'　'I　knew　not　that　it　had　any　properties；'　answered　Abousir；　and　the　captain　said；　'Know；　then；　that　the　king's　troops　obey　him　not　save　for　fear　of　this　ring；　for　it　is　enchanted；　and　when　he　was　wroth　with　any　one　and　had　a　mind　to　put　him　to　death；　he　would　sign　at　him　therewith　and　his　head　would　drop　from　his　shoulders；　for　there　issued　a　lightning　from　the　ring　and　its　ray　smote　the　object　of　his　wrath；　who　died　forthright。'

At　this；　Abousir　rejoiced　with　an　exceeding　joy　and　said　to　the　captain；　'Carry　me　back　to　the　city。'　'That　will　I；'　answered　he；　'now　that　I　no　longer　fear　for　thee　from　the　king；　for；　wert　thou　to　sign　at　him　with　thy　hand；　purposing　to　kill　him；　his　head　would　fall　down　before　thee；　and　if　thou　be　minded　to　slay　him　and　all　his　troops；　thou　mayst　do　so　without　hindrance。'　So　saying；　he　embarked　with　him　in　the　boat　and　rowed　him　back　to　the　city；　where　Abousir　landed　and　going　up　to　the　palace；　entered　the　councilchamber；　where　he　found　the　king　seated　in　the　midst　of　his　officers；　sore　concerned　by　reason　of　the　ring　and　daring　not　tell　any　of　its　loss。

When　he　saw　Abousir；　he　said　to　him；　'Did　we　not　cast　thee　into　the　sea？　How　hast　thou　made　shift　to　e　forth　therefrom？'　'O　king　of　the　age；'　answered　Abousir；　'whenas　thou　badst　throw　me　into　the　sea；　thy　captain　carried　me　to　an　island　and　questioned　me　of　the　cause　of　thy　wrath　against　me；　saying；　〃What　hast　thou　done　with　the　king；　that　he　should　decree　thy　death？〃　〃By　Allah；〃　answered　I；　〃I　know　not　that　I　have　offended　against　him　in　aught！〃　Quoth　he；　〃Thou　wast　in　high　favour　with　the　king；　and　most　like　some　one　envied　thee　and　slandered　thee　to　him；　so　that　he　is　bee　incensed　against　thee。　But；　when　I　visited　thee　in　thy　bath；　thou　entreatedst　me　hospitably；　and　I　will　requite　thee　thy　hospitality　by　setting　thee　free　and　sending　thee　back　to　thine　own　country。〃　Then　he　laid　a　great　stone　in　the　sack　and　cast　it　into　the　sea　in　my　stead；　but；　when　thou　signedst　to　him　to　throw　me　in；　thy　sealring　dropped　from　thy　finger　into　the　sea；　and　a　fish　swallowed　it。

Now　I　was　on　the　island；　fishing；　and　this　fish　came　up　＇in　the　＇　with　others；　whereupon　I　took　it；　thinking　to　broil　it；　but；　when　I　opened　its　maw；　I　found　the　ring　therein；　so　I　took　it　and　put　it　on　my　finger。　Presently；　up　came　two　of　the　servants　of　the　kitchen；　in　quest　of　fish；　and　I　signed　to　them　with　my　hand；　knowing　not　the　property　of　the　ring；　and　their　heads　fell　off。　Then　the　captain　came　back　and　seeing　the　ring　on　my　finger；　acquainted　me　with　its　enchantment；　and　behold；　I　have　brought　it　back　to　thee；　for　that　thou　dealtest　bounteously　by　me　and　entreatedst　me　with　the　utmost　generosity；　nor　is　that　which　thou　hast　done　me　of　kindness　lost　upon　me。　Here　is　thy　ring；　take　it；　and　if　I　have　done　with　thee　aught　deserving　of　death；　tell　me　my　crime　and　slay　me　and　thou　shalt　be　quit　of　my　blood。'　So　saying；　he　pulled　the　ring　from　his　finger　and　gave　it　to　the　king；　who　put　it　on　and　his　life　returned　to　him。

Then　he　rose　to　his　feet　and　embracing　Abousir；　said　to　him；　'O　man；　thou　art　indeed　of　the　flower　of　the　noble！　Bear　me　not　malice；　but　five　me　the　wrong　I　have　done　thee。　Had　any　but　thou　e　by　this　ring；　he　had　never　restored　it　to　me。'　'O　king　of　the　age；'　answered　Abousir；　'if　thou　wouldst　have　me　five　thee；　tell　me　what　was　my　offence　that　drew　down　thine　anger　upon　me；　so　that　thou　mandedst　to　put　me　to　death。'　'By　Allah；'　rejoined　the　king；　'it　is　clear　to　me　that　thou　art　altogether　guiltless　of　offence；　since　thou　hast　done　this　good　deed；　only　the　dyer　denounced　thee　to　me；'　and　he　told　him　all　that　Aboukir　had　said。　'By　Allah；　O　king　of　the　age；'　replied　Abousir；　'I　know　not　the　King　of　the　Christians　and　have　never　journeyed　to　their　country；　nor　did　it　ever　enter　my　thought　to　kill　thee；　but　this　dyer　was　my　rade　and　neighbour　in　the　city　of　Alexandria；　and　life　was　straitened　upon　us　there；　wherefore　we　departed　thence；　to　seek　our　fortunes；　by　reason　of　the　straitness　of　our　livelihood　there；　after　we　had　recited　the　first　chapter　of　the　Koran　together　＇in　token　of　our　agreement＇　that　he　who　got　work　should　feed　him　who　lacked　thereof；　and　there　befell　me　with　him　such　and　such　things。'

Then　he　went　on　to　relate　to　the　king　all　that　had　befallen　him　with　the　dyer；　how　he　had　robbed　him　and　left　him　alone　and　sick　in　the　khan　and　how　the　porter　had　fed　him　of　his　own　monies　till　God　recovered　him　of　his　sickness；　when　he　went　forth　and　walked　about　the　city　with　his　shaving　gear；　as　of　his　wont；　till　he　espied　a　dyery；　about　which　the　folk　were　crowding；　so　he　looked　at　the　door　and　seeing　Aboukir　seated　on　a　bench　there；　went　in　to　salute　him；　whereupon　he　accused　him　of　being　a　thief　and　beat　him　grievously；　brief；　he　told　him　his　whole　story；　from　first　to　last；　and　added；　'O　king　of　the　age；　it　was　he　who　counselled　me　to　make　the　depilatory　and　present　it　to　thee；　saying；　〃The　bath　is　perfect　in　all　things　but　that　it　lacketh　this；〃　and　know；　O　king；　that　this　unguent　is　harmless　and　we　use　it　in　our　country；　where　it　is　one　of　the　requisites　of　the　bath；　but　I　had　fotten　it：　so；　when　he　visited　the　bath；　I　entreated　him　with　honour　and　he　reminded　me　thereof。　But　do　thou　send　after　the　porter　of　such　a　khan　and　the　workmen　of　the　dyery　and　question　them　all　of　that　which　I　have　told　thee。'

So　the　king　sent　for　them　and　questioned　them　and　they　acquainted　him　with　the　truth　of　the　matter。　Then　he　sent　to　fetch　the　dyer；　bidding　bring　him　barefoot　and　bareheaded；　with　his　hands　bound　behind　him。　Now　he　was　sitting　in　his　house；　rejoicing　in　Abousir's　＇supposed＇　death；　when；　before　he　could　be　ware；　the　king's　guards　rushed　in　upon　him　and　cuffed　him　on　the　nape　of　the　neck；　after　which　they　bound　him　and　carried　him　into　the　royal　presence；　where　he　saw　Abousir　seated　by　the　king's　side　and　the　porter　and　workmen　of　the　dyery　standing　before　him。　Quoth　the　porter　to　him；　'Is　not　this　thy　rade　whom　thou　robbedst　of　his　money　and　leftest　with　me　sick　in　the　khan？'　And　the　workmen　said　to　him；　'Is　not　this　he　whom　thou　badest　us　seize　and　beat？'

Therewith　Aboukir's　baseness　was　made　manifest　to　the　king　and　he　was　certified　that　he　merited　a　punishment　yet　sorer　than　that　which　Munker　and　Neckir　（194）　deal　＇to　the　wicked　after　death＇。　So　he　upbraided　him　and　said　to　his　guards；　'Take　him　and　parade　him　about　the　city　and　the　markets；　then　lay　him　in　a　sack　and　cast　him　into　the　sea。'　Whereupon　quoth　Abousir；　'O　king　of　the　age；　accept　my　intercession　for　him；　for　I　pardon　him　all　he　hath　done　with　me。'　'If　thou　pardon　him　his　offences　against　thee；'　answered　the　king；　'I　cannot　pardon　him　his　offences　against　me。'　And　he　cried　out；　saying；　'Take　him。'　So　they　took　him　and　paraded　him　about　the　city；　after　which　they　laid　him　in　a　sack　　into　the　sea；　and　he　died；　drowned　and　burnt。

Then　said　the　king　to　the　barber；　'O　Abousir；　ask　of　me　what　thou　wilt　and　it　shall　be　given　thee。'　And　he　answered；　saying；　'I　ask　of　thee　to　send　me　back　to　my　own　country；　for　I　care　no　longer　to　abide　here。'　Then　the　king　offered　to　make　him　his　vizier；　but　he　consented　not；　so　he　gave　him　great　store　of　gifts；　over　and　above　that　which　he　had　bestowed　on　him　aforetime；　and　amongst　the　rest　a　galleon　laden　with　goods；　and　the　crew　of　this　galleon　were　slaves；　so　he　gave　him　these　also。　Then　he　took　leave　of　the　king　and　set　sail；　nor　did　he　cast　anchor　till　he　reached　Alexandria　and　made　fast　to　the　shore　there。　Then　they　landed　and　one　of　his　servants；　seeing　a　sack　on　the　beach；　said　to　Abousir；　'O　my　lord；　there　is　a　great　heavy　sack　on　the　seashore；　with　the　mouth　tied　up　and　I　know　not　what　therein。'　So　Abousir　came　up　and　opening　the　sack；　found　therein　the　dead　body　of　Aboukir；　which　the　sea　had　borne　thither。　He　took　it　forth　and　burying　it　near　Alexandria；　built　over　the　grave　a　place　of　visitation　and　endowed　it　for　pious　uses；　writing　over　the　door　the　following　verses：

　　A　man　is　by　his　actions　known　among　his　fellows　aye：　The　actions　of　the　freeborn　man　his　generous　birth　betray。
　　Backbite　not　any；　lest　thyself　backbitten　be　in　tarn。　Whososaith　aught；　his　fellowmen　the　like　of　him　will　say。
　　Abstain　from　lewd　and　ribald　words：　I　rede　thee　speak　them　not　At　any　time；　or　if　it　be　in　earnest　or　in　play。
　　The　dog；　good　manners　if　he　use；　Is　suffered　in　the　house；　The　lion；　of　his　ignorance；　is　fettered　night　and　day。
　　The　carrion　of　the　waste　floats　up　upon　the　topmost　sea；　Whilst　on　the　lowest　of　its　sands　the　pearls　neglected　stay。
　　But　for　its　featherheadedness　and　levity　of　wit；　The　sparrow　never　with　the　hawk　to　jostle　would　essay。
　　Lo；　on　the　pages　of　the　air　is　written；　in　the　sky；　'Whoso　doth　good；　the　like　thereof　his　actions　shall　repay。'
　　Beware　of　gathering　sugar；　then；　from　out　the　colocynth：　Still　in　the　tasting　will　the　thing　its　origin　bewray。　
After　this　Abousir　abode　awhile；　till　God