一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第55部分

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Then　the　merman　went　down　into　the　sea　＇and　disappeared＇；　whereupon　the　fisherman　repented　him　of　having　released　him　and　said　in　himself；　'How　know　I　that　he　will　e　back　to　me？　Indeed；　he　beguiled　me；　so　that　I　released　him；　and　now　he　will　laugh　at　me。　Had　I　kept　him；　I　might　have　made　a　show　of　him　for　the　diversion　of　the　people　of　the　city　and　taken　money　from　all　the　folk　and　entered　with　him　the　houses　of　the　great。'　And　he　repented　him　of　having　let　him　go　and　said；　'Thou　hast　let　thy　prey　go　from　thy　hand。'　But；　as　he　was　thus　bemoaning　his　credulity；　behold；　the　merman　returned　to　him；　with　his　hands　full　of　pearls　and　coral　and　emeralds　and　rubies　and　other　jewels；　and　said　to　him；　'Take　these；　O　my　brother；　and　excuse　me；　for　I　had　no　basket　that　I　might　fill　it　for　thee。'

The　fisherman　rejoiced　and　took　the　jewels　from　the　merman；　who　said　to　him；　'e　hither　every　day；　before　sunrise；'　and　taking　leave　of　him；　went　down　into　the　sea；　whilst　the　other　returned　to　the　city；　rejoicing；　and　stayed　not　till　he　came　to　the　baker's　shop　and　said　to　him；　'O　my　brother；　good　luck　is　e　to　us　＇at　last＇；　so　do　thou　reckon　with　me。'　'There　needs　no　reckoning；'　answered　the　baker。　'If　thou　have　aught；　give　it　me；　and　if　not；　take　thy　bread　and　spendingmoney　and　begone；　against　good　betide　thee。'　'O　my　friend；'　rejoined　the　fisherman；　'indeed　good　hath　betided　me　of　God's　bounty；　and　I　owe　thee　much　money；　but　take　this。'　So　saying；　he　took　up；　at　a　handful；　half　of　the　pearls　and　coral　and　rubies　and　other　jewels　he　had　with　him；　and　gave　them　to　the　baker　saying；　'Give　me　some　ready　money　to　spend　this　day；　till　I　sell　these　jewels。'

So　the　baker　gave　him　all　the　money　he　had　by　him　and　all　the　bread　in　his　basket　and　rejoiced　in　the　jewels　he　had　given　him；　saying；　'I　am　thy　slave　and　thy　servant。'　Then　he　set　all　the　bread　on　his　head　and　following　the　fisherman　home；　gave　it　to　his　wife　and　children；　after　which　he　repaired　to　the　market　and　fetched　meat　and　vegetables　and　all　kinds　of　fruit。　Moreover；　he　left　his　shop　and　abode　with　Abdallah　all　that　day；　busying　himself　in　his　service　and　doing　all　his　occasions。　'O　my　brother；'　said　the　fisherman；　'thou　weariest　thyself。'　'This　is　my　duty；'　answered　the　baker；　'for　I　am　bee　thy　servant　and　thou　hast　overwhelmed　me　with　thy　bounties。'　'Not　so；'　rejoined　the　fisherman；　'it　is　thou　who　wast　my　benefactor　in　the　days　of　dearth　and　straitness。'　And　the　baker　passed　the　night　in　feasting　with　him　and　became　a　faithful　friend　to　him。　Then　the　fisherman　told　his　wife　what　had　befallen　him　with　the　merman；　whereat　she　rejoiced　and　said；　'keep　thy　secret；　lest　the　magistrates　e　down　upon　thee。'　But　he　said；　'Though　I　keep　my　secret　from　all　the　folk；　yet　will　I　not　hide　it　from　the　baker。'

On　the　morrow；　he　rose　before　the　sun　and　shouldering　a　basket；　which　he　had　filled　overnight　with　all　manner　fruits；　repaired　to　the　seashore；　where　he　set　down　the　basket　and　called　out；　saying；　'Where　art　thou；　O　Abdallah；　O　merman？'　And　he　answered；　saying；　'Here　am　I；　at　thy　service；'　and　came　forth　to　him。　The　fisherman　gave　him　the　fruit　and　he　took　it　and　plunging　into　the　sea　with　it；　was　absent　awhile。　after　which　he　came　up；　with　the　basket　full　of　all　kinds　of　precious　stones　and　jewels。　The　fisherman　set　it　on　his　head　and　went　away；　and　when　he　came　to　the　baker's　shop；　the　latter　said　to　him；　'O　my　lord；　I　have　baked　thee　forty　brioches　and　have　sent　them　to　thy　house；　and　now　I　will　bake　wastelbread；　and　as　soon　as　it　is　done；　I　will　bring　it　to　thy　house　and　go　and　fetch　thee　meat　and　vegetables。'

Abdallah　gave　him　three　handsful　of　jewels　out　of　the　basket　and　going　home；　set　it　down　there。　Then　he　took　a　jewel　of　price　of　each　sort　and　going　to　the　jewelbazaar；　stopped　at　the　Syndic's　shop　and　said　to　him；　'Buy　these　jewels　of　me。'　'Show　them　to　me；'　said　the　Syndic。　So　he　showed　them　to　him　and　the　jeweller　said；　'Hast　thou　other　than　these？'　'Yes；'　answered　Abdallah；　'I　have　a　basketful　at　home。'　'And　where　is　thy　house？'　asked　the　Syndic。　'In　such　a　quarter；'　replied　the　fisherman；　whereupon　the　Syndic　took　the　jewels　from　him　and　said　to　his　servants；　'Lay　hold　of　him；　for　he　is　the　thief　who　stole　the　queen's　jewels。'　And　he　bade　beat　him。　So　they　beat　him　and　bound　his　hands　behind　him；　after　which　the　Syndic　and　all　the　people　of　the　jewelmarket　arose　and　set　out　＇to　carry　him　to　the　king＇；　saying；　'We　have　gotten　the　thief。'　Quoth　one；　'None　robbed　such　an　one　but　this　knave；'　and　another；　'It　was　none　but　he　stole　all　that　was　in　such　an　one's　house；'　and　some　said　this　and　some　that。

But　he　was　silent　and　spoke　not　a　word　nor　answered　any　of　them；　till　they　brought　him　before　the　king；　to　whom　said　the　Syndic；　'O　king　of　the　age；　when　the　queen's　necklace　was　stolen；　thou　sentest　to　acquaint　us　therewith；　requiring　of　us　the　discovery　of　the　culprit；　wherefore　I　strove　beyond　the　rest　of　the　folk　and　have　taken　the　thief　for　thee。　Here　he　is　before　thee；　and　these　jewels　we　have　recovered　from　him。'　Thereupon　the　king　said　to　the　eunuch；　'Carry　these　jewels　to　the　queen　and　say　to　her；　〃Are　these　thy　jewels　that　thou　hast　lost？〃'　So　the　eunuch　carried　the　jearvelled　at　them　and　sent　to　the　king　to　say；　'I　have　found　my　necklace　in　my　own　place　and　these　jewels　are　not　my　property；　nay；　they　are　finer　than　those　of　my　necklace。　Wherefore　oppress　thou　not　the　man；　but；　if　he　will　sell　them；　buy　them　of　him　for　thy　daughter　Umm　esSuwood；　that　we　may　string　them　on　a　necklace　for　her。'

When　the　eunuch　returned　and　told　the　king　what　the　queen　said；　he　cursed　the　Syndic　of　the　jewellers　and　his　pany　with　the　curse　of　Aad　and　Themoud；'　（199）　and　they　said　to　him；　'O　king　of　the　age；　we　knew　this　man　for　a　poor　fisherman　and　deemed　these　jewels　too　much　for　him　＇to　e　by　honestly＇；　so　made　sure　that　he　had　stolen　them。'　'Wretches　that　ye　are！'　cried　the　king。　'Do　ye　begrudge　a　truebeliever　good　fortune？　？　Peradventure　God　the　Most　High　hath　vouchsafed　him　these　things　from　a　source　on　which　he　did　not　reckon。　Why　did　ye　make　him　out　a　thief　and　dishonour　him　amongst　the　folk？　Begone；　and　may　God　not　bless　you！'

So　they　went　out　in　affright　and　the　king　said　to　Abdallah；　'O　man；　（may　God　bless　thee　in　that　He　hath　bestowed　on　thee！）　no　harm　shall　befall　thee；　but　tell　me　truly；　whence　gottest　thou　these　jewels；　for　I　am　a　king　and　have　not　the　like　of　them。'　'O　king　of　the　age；'　answered　the　fisherman；　'I　have　a　basketful　of　them　at　home。'　And　he　told　him　of　his　friendship　with　the　merman；　adding；　'We　have　made　a　covenant　together　that　I　shall　bring　him　every　day　a　basketful　of　fruit　and　that　he　shall　fill　me　the　basket　with　these　jewels。'　'O　man；'　said　the　king；　'this　is　thy　lot；　but　wealth　hath　need　of　station。'　（200）　I　will　protect　thee　for　the　once　against　men's　usurpations；　but　it　may　be　I　shall　be　deposed　or　die　and　another　be　made　king　in　my　stead；　and　he　shall　put　thee　to　death；　because　of　his　love　of　the　things　of　this　world　and　his　covetousness。　Wherefore　I　am　minded　to　marry　thee　to　my　daughter　and　make　thee　my　vizier　and　bequeath　thee　the　kingdom　after　me；　so　none　may　oppress　thee　after　my　death。'

Then　said　he　to　his　officers；　'Carry　this　man　to　the　bath。'　So　they　carried　him　to　the　bath　and　washed　his　body　and　clad　him　in　royal　apparel；　after　which　they　brought　him　back　to　the　king；　and　he　made　him　his　vizier　and　sent　to　his　house　couriers　and　the　soldiers　of　his　guard　and　all　the　wives　of　the　notables；　who　clad　his　children　in　royal　apparel　and　mounting　the　former　in　a　horselitter；　with　the　little　child　in　her　lap；　carried　her　to　the　palace；　whilst　the　guards　and　couriers　and　Cadis　walked　before　her。　Moreover；　they　brought　her　elder　children　in　to　the　king；　who　made　much　of　them；　taking　them　in　his　lap　and　seating　them　by　his　side；　for　they　were　nine　male　children　and　the　king　had　no　＇male＇　offspring；　nor　had　he　been　blessed　with　any　child；　save　this　one　daughter；　Umm　esSuwood。　Meanwhile　the　queen　entreated　Abdallah's　wife　with　honour　and　bestowed　favours　on　her　and　made　her　her　vizieress。　Then　the　king　manded　to　draw　up　the　contract　of　marriage　between　his　daughter　and　the　fisherman；　who　assigned　to　her；　as　her　dower；　all　the　precious　stones　and　jewels　in　his　possession；　and　they　opened　the　chapter　of　festivity。　Moreover；　the　king　made　proclamation；　manding　to　decorate　the　city；　in　honour　of　his　daughter's　wedding；　and　Abdallah　went　in　to　the　princess　and　did　away　her　maiden　head。

Next　morning；　the　king　looked　out　of　window　and　saw　Abdallah　carrying　on　his　head　a　basket　full　of　fruit。　So　he　said　to　him；　'What　hast　thou　there；　O　my　soninlaw；　and　whither　goest　thou？'　'I　go　to　my　friend　Abdallah　the　merman；'　answered　the　fisherman；　and　the　king　said；　'O　my　soninlaw；　this　is　no　time　to　go　to　thy　friend。'　Quoth　Abdallah；　'Indeed；　I　fear　to　break　tryst　with　him；　lest　he　reckon　me　a　liar　and　say；　〃The　things　of　the　world　have　distracted　thee　from　me。〃'　'True；'　rejoined　the　king。　'Go　to　thy　friend　and　God　help　thee！'　So　he　passed　through　the　city　on　his　way　to　the　seashore；　and　as　he　went；　he　heard　those　who　knew　him　say；　'There　goes　the　king's　soninlaw　to　exchange　fruit　for　jewels；'　whilst　those　who　knew　him　not　said；　'Harkye；　how　much　a　pound？　e；　sell　to　me。'　And　he　answered；　saying；　'Wait　till　I　e　back　to　thee；'　for　that　he　would　not　vex　any。

Then　he　fared　on　till　he　came　to　the　seashore　and　foregathered　with　his　friend　the　merman；　to　whom　he　delivered　the　fruit；　receiving　jewels　in　return。　As　he　passed　by　the　shop　of　the　baker；　on　his　return；　he　saw　it　closed；　and　thus　he　did　ten　days；　during　which　time　the　shop　abode　shut　and　he　saw　nothing　of　the　baker。　So　he　said　in　himself；　'This　is　a　strange　thing！　I　wonder　what　is　e　of　the　baker！'　Then　he　enquired　of　his　neighbour；　saying；　'O　my　brother；　where　is　thy　neighbour　the　baker　and　what　hath　God　done　with　him？'　'O　my　lord；'　answered　he；　'he　is　sick　and　eth　not　forth　of　his　house。'　'Where　is　his　house？'　asked　Abdallah；　and　the　other　replied；　'In　such　a　quarter。'

So　he　；　but；　when　he　knocked　at　the　door；　the　baker　looked　out　of　window　and　seeing　his　friend　the　fisherman；　with　a　full　basket　on　his　head；　came　down　and　opened　the　door　to　him。　Abdallah　entered　and　throwing　himself　on　the　baker；　embraced　him　and　wept；　saying；　'How　dost　thou；　O　my　friend？　Every　day；　I　pass　by　thy　shop　and　see　it　closed；　so　I　asked　thy　neighbour；　who　told　me　that　thou　wast　sick；　and　I　enquired　for　thy　house；　that　I　might　see　thee。'　'God　requite　thee　for　me　with　all　good！'　answered　the　baker。　'Nothing　ails　me；　but　it　was　told　me　that　the　king　had　taken　thee；　for　that　certain　of　the　folk　had　lied　against　thee　and　accused　thee　of　being　a　thief；　wherefore　I　feared　and　shut　my　shop　and　hid　myself'　'It　is　well；'　said　Abdallah　and　told　him　all　that　had　befallen　him　with　the　king　and　the　Syndic　of　the　jewellers；　adding；　'Moreover；　the　king　hath　given　me　his　daughter　to　wife　and　made　me　his　vizier：　so　do　thou　take　what　is　in　this　basket　to　thy　share　and　fear　nothing。'

Then　he　left　him；　after　having　done　away　his　fear　from　him；　and　returned　with　the　empty　basket　to　the　king；　who　said　to　him；　'O　my　soninlaw；　it　would　seem　thou　hast　not　foregathered　with　thy　friend　the　merman　today。'　'I　went　to　him；'　replied　Abdallah；　'but　that　which　I　g