一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第61部分

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ue；〃　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　them；　by　reason　of　his　love　for　women　and　inclination　to　them；　for　that　his　viziers　forbade　him　from　this；　but　he　would　not　be　forbidden　and　manded　to　slay　them；　in　obedience　to　his　women。　Thus　he　killed　Shimas　my　father；　who　was　his　vizier　and　the　vizier　of　his　father　before　him　and　the　chief　of　his　council；　but　thou　shalt　see　how　God　will　do　with　him　by　reason　of　his　sins　against　them　and　how　He　shall　avenge　them　of　him。'　'How　so？'　asked　the　first　boy。

'Know；'　replied　his　fellow；　'that　the　King　of　Farther　India　maketh　light　of　our　king　and　hath　sent　him　a　letter；　rating　him　and　saying　to　him；　〃Build　me　a　castle　amiddleward　the　sea；　or　I　will　send　unto　thee　Bediya　my　vizier；　with　twelve　squadrons　of　horse；　each　twelve　thousand　strong；　to　seize　upon　thy　kingdom　and　slay　thy　men　and　take　thee　and　thy　women　prisoners。〃　And　he　hath　given　him　three　days'　time　to　answer。　Now　thou　must　know；　O　my　brother；　that　this　King　of　Farther　India　is　a　masterful　tyrant；　a　man　of　might　and　exceeding　prowess；　and　in　his　realm　are　much　people；　wherefore；　except　our　king　make　shift　to　fend　him　off　from　himself；　he　will　fall　into　perdition；　whilst　the　King　of　Hind　will　seize　on　our　possessions　and　slay　our　men　and　make　prize　of　our　women。〃　When　the　king　heard　this　talk；　his　agitation　redoubled　and　he　inclined　to　the　boys；　saying；　'Surely；　this　boy　is　a　wizard；　in　that　he　is　acquainted　with　this　thing；　for　the　letter　is　with　me　and　the　secret　also　and　none　hath　knowledge　of　this　matter　but　myself。　How　then　knoweth　this　boy　of　it？　I　will　resort　unto　him　and　talk　with　him　and　I　pray　God　that　our　deliverance　may　be　at　his　hand。'

Then　he　approached　the　boy　softly　and　said　to　him；　'O　dear　boy；　what　is　this　thou　sayest　of　our　king；　that　he　did　ill　to　the　utterest　in　slaying　his　viziers　and　the　chiefs　of　his　state？　Indeed；　he　sinned　against　himself　and　his　people　and　thou　art　right　in　that　which　thou　sayest。　But　tell　me；　O　my　son；　whence　knowest　thou　that　the　King　of　Farther　India　hath　written　him　a　letter；　berating　him　and　bespeaking　him　with　the　grievous　speech　whereof　thou　tellest？'　'O　brother；'　answered　the　boy；　'I　know　this　from　the　sand　（184）　wherewith　I　tell　the　tale　of　night　and　day　and　from　the　saying　of　the　ancients；　〃No　mystery　is　hidden　from　God；〃　for　the　sons　of　Adam　have　in　them　a　spiritual　virtue　which　discovers　to　them　hidden　secrets。'　'True；　O　my　son；'　answered　Wird　Khan；　'but　whence　learnedly　thou　the　＇art　of　divination　by＇　sand；　and　thou　young　of　years？'　Quoth　the　boy；　'My　father　taught　it　me；'　and　the　king　said；　'Is　thy　father　alive　or　dead？'　'He　is　dead；'　answered　the　boy。

Then　said　Wird　Khan；　'Is　there　any　resource　or　device　for　our　king；　whereby　he　may　ward　off　this　sore　calamity　from　himself　and　his　kingdom？'　And　the　boy　answered；　'It　befits　not　that　I　speak　with　thee　＇of　this＇；　but；　if　the　king　send　for　me　and　ask　me　how　he　shall　do　to　baffle　his　enemy　and　win　free　of　his　snares；　I　　with　that　wherein；　by　the　power　of　God　the　Most　High；　shall　be　his　deliverance。'　'But　who　shall　tell　the　king　of　this；'　asked　Wird　Khan；　'that　he　may　send　for　thee？'　Quoth　the　boy；　'If　I　hear　that　he　seeketh　men　of　experience　and　good　counsel；　I　will　go　up　with　them　to　him　and　tell　him　that　wherein　shall　be　his　welfare　and　the　warding　off　of　this　affliction　from　him；　but；　if　he　neglect　this　pressing　matter　and　busy　himself　with　his　pleasures　among　his　women　and　I　go　to　him　of　my　own　motion；　purposing　to　acquaint　him　with　the　means　of　deliverance；　he　will　assuredly　give　orders　to　slay　me；　even　as　he　slew　those　his　viziers；　and　my　courtesy　to　him　will　be　the　cause　of　my　destruction；　wherefore　the　folk　will　think　meanly　of　me　and　belittle　my　wit　and　I　shall　be　of　those　of　whom　it　is　said；　〃He　whose　learning　exceeds　his　wit　perishes　by　his　ignorance。〃'

When　the　king　heard　the　boy's　speech；　he　was　assured　of　his　sagacity　and　the　excellence　of　his　merit　was　manifest　unto　him。　So　he　was　certified　that　deliverance　would　betide　him　and　his　subjects　at　the　boy's　hands　and　said　to　him；　'Whence　art　thou　and　where　is　thy　house？'　'This　is　the　wall