一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第54部分

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　　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　took　him　to　Himself　and　they　buried　him　hard　by　the　tomb　of　his　rade　Aboukir；　wherefore　the　place　was　called　Aboukir　and　Abousir；　but　it　is　now　known　as　Aboukir　＇only＇。　This；　then；　is　that　which　hath　reached　us　of　their　history；　and　glory　be　to　Him　who　endureth　for　ever　and　by　whose　will　the　days　and　nights　succeed　each　other！



ABDALLAH　THE　FISHERMAN　AND　ABDALLAH　THE　MERMAN。

There　was　once　a　fisherman　named　Abdallah；　who　had　a　wife　and　nine　children　and　was　very　poor；　owning　nothing　but　his　。　Every　day　he　used　to　go　to　the　sea　to　fish；　and　if　he　caught　little；　he　sold　it　and　spent　the　price　on　his　children；　after　the　measure　of　that　which　God　vouchsafed　him　of　provision；　but；　if　he　caught　much；　he　would　cook　a　good　mess　of　meat　and　buy　fruit　and　spend　without　stint　till　nothing　was　left　him；　saying　in　himself；　'Tomorrow's　provision　will　e　tomorrow。'　Presently；　his　wife　gave　birth　to　another　child；　making　ten　in　all；　and　it　chanced　that　day　that　he　had　nothing　at　all；　so　she　said　to　him；　'O　my　master；　see　＇and　get＇　me　wherewithal　I　may　sustain　myself。'　Quoth　he；　'Under　favour　of　God　the　Most　High；　I　am　going　today　to　the　sea；　to　fish　in　the　name　of　this　newborn　child；　that　we　may　see　its　luck。'　And　she　answered；　'Put　thy　trust　in　God。'

So　he　took　his　　and　went　down　to　the　seashore；　where　he　cast　it　in　the　name　of　the　little　child；　saying；　'O　my　God；　make　his　living　easy；　not　hard；　and　abundant；　not　scant！'　Then　he　waited　awhile　and　drew　in　the　；　which　came　up　full　of　rubbish　and　sand　and　pebbles　and　weeds；　and　he　found　therein　no　fish；　neither　much　not　little。　He　cast　it　again　and　waited；　then　drew　it　in；　but　found　no　fish　in　it；　and　threw　it　a　third　and　a　fourth　and　a　fifth　time；　with　no　better　success。　So　he　removed　to　another　place；　beseeching　God　the　Most　High　to　grant　him　his　daily　bread；　and　thus　he　did　till　the　end　of　the　day；　but　caught　not　so　much　as　a　sprat；　whereat　he　fell　amarvelling　in　himself　and　said；　'Hath　God　then　created　this　newborn　child；　without　＇an　appointed＇　provision？　This　may　never　be；　He　who　slits　the　corners　of　the　mouth　hath　engaged　for　its　provision；　for　He　is　the　Bountiful；　the　Provider！'　So　saying；　he　shouldered　his　　and　turned　homeward；　brokenspirited　and　heavy　at　heart　for　his　family；　for　that　he　had　left　them　without　food；　more　by　token　that　his　wife　was　in　the　straw。

As　he　trudged　along；　saying　in　himself；　'How　shall　I　do　and　what　shall　I　say　to　the　children　tonight？'　he　came　to　a　baker's　oven　and　saw　a　crowd　about　it；　for　it　was　a　time　of　dearth　and　food　was　scant　with　the　folk；　so　they　were　proffering　the　baker　money；　but　he　paid　no　heed　to　any　of　them；　by　reason　of　the　much　crowd。　The　fisherman　stood　looking　and　snuffing　the　smell　of　the　hot　bread；　and　indeed　his　soul　longed　for　it；　by　reason　of　his　hunger；　till　the　baker　caught　sight　of　him　and　cried　out　to　him；　saying；　'e　hither；　O　fisherman！'　So　he　went　up　to　him；　and　the　baker　said　to　him；　'Dost　thou　want　bread？'　But　he　was　silent。　'Speak；'　said　the　baker；　'and　be　not　ashamed；　for　God　is　bountiful。　If　thou　have　no　money；　I　will　give　thee　＇bread＇　and　have　patience　with　thee　till　good　＇fortune＇　betide　thee。'　'By　Allah；　O　master；'　replied　Abdallah；　'I　have　indeed　no　money！　But　give　me　bread　enough　for　my　family；　and　I　will　leave　thee　this　　in　pawn　till　the　morrow。'　'Nay；　good　fellow；'　rejoined　the　baker；　'this　　is　＇as　it　were＇　thy　shop　and　the　means　of　thy　livelihood；　（195）　so；　if　thou　pawn　it；　wherewithal　wilt　thou　fish？　Tell　me；　how　much　＇bread＇　will　suffice　thee？'　'Ten　pares'　worth；'　replied　the　fisherman。

So　he　gave　him　ten　pares'　worth　of　bread　and　ten　pares　in　money；　saying；　'Take　these　ten　pares　and　cook　thyself　a　mess　of　meat　therewith；　so　wilt　thou　owe　me　twenty　pares；　for　which　bring　me　fish　tomorrow；　but；　if　thou　catch　nothing　again；　e　and　take　thy　bread　and　thy　ten　pares；　and　I　will　have　patience　with　thee　till　better　luck　betide　thee；　when　thou　shalt　bring　me　fish　for　all　thou　owest　me。'　'May　God　the　Most　High　reward　thee'　said　the　fisherman；　'and　requite　thee　for　me　with　all　good！'　Then　he　took　the　bread　and　the　money　and　went　away；　glad　at　heart；　and　buying　what　he　could　＇of　meat　and　vegetables＇；　returned　to　his　wife；　whom　he　found　sitting　up；　soothing　the　children；　who　were　weeping　for　hunger；　and　saying　to　them；　'Your　father　will　be　here　with　what　ye　may　eat。'　So　he　set　the　bread　before　them　and　they　ate；　whilst　he　told　his　wife　what　had　befallen　him；　and　she　said；　'God　is　bountiful。'

On　the　morrow；　he　shouldered　his　　and　went　forth　of　his　house；　saying；　'I　beseech　thee；　O　Lord；　to　vouchsafe　me　this　day　what　shall　whiten　my　face　with　the　baker！'　When　he　came　to　the　seashore；　he　proceeded　to　cast　his　　and　pull　it　in；　but　there　came　up　no　fish　therein；　and　he　toiled　thus　till　ended　day　and　caught　nothing。　Then　he　set　out　homeward；　in　sore　concern；　and　the　way　to　his　house　lay　past　the　baker's　shop；　so　he　said　in　himself；　'How　shall　I　go　home？　But　I　will　hasten　past　that　the　baker　may　not　see　me。'　When　he　reached　the　shop；　he　saw　a　crowd　about　it　and　quickened　his　pace；　being　ashamed　to　face　the　baker；　but　the　latter　raised　his　eyes　to　him　and　cried　out　to　him；　saying；　'Ho；　fisherman！　e　and　take　thy　bread　and　spendingmoney。　Meseems　thou　fettest。'　'By　Allah；'　answered　Abdallah；　'I　had　not　fotten；　but　I　was　ashamed　to　face　thee；　because　I　have　caught　no　fish　today。'　'Be　not　ashamed；'　answered　the　baker。　'Said　I　not　to　thee；　〃At　thy　leisure；　till　good　hap　betide　thee？〃'

Then　he　gave　him　the　bread　and　the　ten　pares　and　he　returned　and　told　his　wife；　who　said；　'God　is　bountiful。　If　it　please　the　Most　High；　good　luck　shall　yet　betide　thee　and　thou　shalt　give　the　baker　his　due。'　On　this　wise　he　did　forty　days；　betaking　himself　daily　to　the　sea；　from　the　rising　of　the　sun　to　the　going　down　thereof；　and　returning　＇at　nightfall＇；　without　fish；　and　still　he　took　bread　and　spendingmoney　of　the　baker；　who　never　named　the　fish　to　him　nor　neglected　him　nor　kept　him　waiting；　like　the　folk；　（196）　but　gave　him　the　bread　and　the　ten　pares　＇forthright＇。　Whenever　the　fisherman　said　to　him；　'O　my　brother；　reckon　with　me；'　he　would　say；　'Go　thy　ways；　this　is　no　time　for　reckoning。　＇Wait＇　till　good　luck　betide　thee；　and　then　I　will　reckon　with　thee。'　And　the　fisherman　would　go　away；　blessing　and　thanking　him。

On　the　oneandfortieth　day；　he　said　to　his　wife；　'I　have　a　mind　to　tear　up　the　　and　be　quit　of　this　life。'　'Why　wilt　thou　do　this？'　asked　she。　And　he　said；　'Meseems　there　is　an　end　of　my　getting　my　living　from　the　sea。　How　long　shall　this　last？　By　Allah；　I　am　consumed　with　shame　before　the　baker；　and　I　will　go　no　more　to　the　sea；　so　I　may　not　pass　by　his　shop；　for　I　have　no　other　way　home；　and　every　time　I　pass；　he　calls　me　and　gives　me　the　bread　and　the　ten　pares。　How　much　longer　shall　I　run　in　debt　to　him？'　'Praised　be　God　the　Most　High；'　replied　his　wife；　'who　hath　inclined　his　heart　to　thee；　so　that　he　giveth　thee　our　daily　bread！　What　dislikest　thou　in　this？'　Quoth　he；　'I　owe　him　now　a　great　sum　of　money；　and　he　will　without　fail　demand　his　due。'　'Hath　he　vexed　thee　with　words？'　asked　his　wife。　'Nay；'　answered　Abdallah；　'on　the　contrary；　he　still　refuses　to　reckon　with　me；　saying；　〃＇Wait＇　till　good　luck　betide　thee。〃'　And　his　wife　said；　'If　he　press　thee；　say　to　him；　〃＇Wait＇　till　there　e　the　good　luck　for　which　we　hope；　thou　and　I。〃'　'And　when　will　the　good　luck　e　that　we　hope　for？'　asked　the　fisherman。　'God　is　bountiful；'　answered　she；　and　he　said；　'Thou　sayst　sooth。'

Then　he　shouldered　his　　and　went　down　to　the　seaside；　saying；　'O　Lord；　provide　Thou　me；　though　but　with　one　fish；　that　I　may　give　it　to　the　baker！'　And　he　cast　his　　into　the　sea　and　pulling　it　in；　found　it　heavy；　so　he　tugged　at　it　till；　after　sore　travail；　he　got　it　ashore　and　found　in　it　a　dead　ass；　swollen　and　stinking；　whereat　his　soul　sickened　and　he　freed　it　from　the　；　saying；　'There　is　no　power　and　no　virtue　save　in　God　the　Most　High；　the　Supreme！　Verily；　I　can　no　more！　I　say　to　yonder　woman；　（197）　〃There　is　no　more　provision　for　me　in　the　sea；　let　me　leave　this　craft。〃　And　she　still　answers　me；　〃God　is　bountiful；　good　will　betide　thee。〃　Is　this　dead　ass　the　good　of　which　she　speaks？'　And　he　was　sore　chagrined。

Then　he　removed　to　another　place；　so　he　might　be　quit　of　the　stench　of　the　dead　ass；　and　cast　his　　there。　He　waited　awhile；　then　drew　it　in　and　found　it　heavy；　whereupon　quoth　he；　'Good；　we　are　hauling　up　all　the　dead　asses　in　the　sea　and　ridding　it　of　its　rubbish。'　However　he　gave　not　over　tugging　at　the　；　till　the　blood　streamed　from　the　palms　of　his　hands；　and　when　he　got　it　ashore；　he　saw　a　man　in　it　and　took　him　for　one　of　the　Afrits　of　the　lord　Solomon；　whom　he　was　wont　to　imprison　in　vessels　of　brass　and　cast　into　the　sea；　supposing　that　the　vessel　had　burst　for　length　of　years　and　that　the　Atrit　had　e　forth　and　fallen　into　the　；　wherefore　he　fled　from　him；　crying　out　and　saying；　'Mercy；　mercy；　O　Afrit　of　Solomon！'　But　the　creature　called　out　to　him　from　within　the　　and　said；　'e　hither；　O　fisherman；　and　flee　not　from　me；　for　I　am　a　human　being　like　thyself　Release　me；　so　thou　mayst　get　a　repense　for　me　＇of　God＇。'

So　the　fisherman　took　heart　and　ing　up　to　him；　said　to　him；　'Art　thou　not　an　Afrit　of　the　Jinn？'　'Nay；'　replied　the　other；　'I　am　a　mortal　and　a　believer　in　God　and　His　Apostle。'　'Who　threw　thee　into　the　sea？'　asked　the　fisherman；　and　he　answered；　'I　am　of　the　children　of　the　sea　and　was　going　about　therein；　when　thou　castest　the　　over　me。　We　are　people　who　obey　God's　mandments　and　show　lovingkindness　unto　the　creatures　of　the　Most　High；　and　but　that　I　fear　and　dread　to　be　of　the　disobedient；　I　had　torn　thy　；　but　I　accept　that　which　God　hath　decreed　unto　me；　wherefore　thou　art　bee　my　owner　and　I　thy　captive。　Wilt　thou　then　set　me　free　for　the　love　of　God　the　Most　High　and　make　a　covenant　with　me　and　bee　my　friend？　I　will　e　to　thee　every　day　in　this　place；　and　do　thou　e　to　me　and　bring　me　a　gift　of　the　fruits　of　the　land。　For　with　you　are　grapes　and　figs　and　melons　and　peaches　and　pomegranates　and　what　not　else；　and　all　thou　bringest　me　will　be　acceptable　unto　me。　Moreover；　with　us　are　coral　and　pearls　and　chrysolites　and　emeralds　and　rubies　and　other　precious　stones；　and　I　will　fill　thee　the　basket；　wherein　thou　bringest　me　the　fruit；　with　precious　stones　of　the　jewels　of　the　sea。　What　sayst　thou　to　this；　O　my　brother？'

Quoth　the　fisherman；　'Be　the　first　chapter　of　the　Koran　between　thee　and　me　upon　this。'　So　they　recited　the　Fatiheh；　（198）　＇in　token　of　their　agreement＇；　and　the　fisherman　loosed　the　merman　from　the　　and　said　to　him；　'What　is　thy　name？'　'My　name　is　Abdallah　of　the　sea；'　answered　he；　'and　if　thou　e　hither　and　see　me　not；　do　thou　call　out　and　say；　〃Where　art　thou；　O　Abdallah；　O　merman？〃　And　I　will　be　with　thee　presently。　But　thou；　what　is　thy　name？'　'My　name　also　is　Abdallah；'　answered　the　fisherman。　Quoth　the　other；　'Thou　art　Abdallah　of　the　land　and　I　am　Abdallah　of　the　sea；　but　abide　here　till　I　go　and　fetch　thee　a　present。'　And　the　fisherman　said；　'I　hear　and　obey。'

Then　the　merman　went　down　into　the　sea　＇and　disappeared＇；　whereupon　the　fisherman　repent