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第59部分

一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第59部分


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nd trapping a lion; skinned him and stuffed his hide with straw; after which he carried it to a high place; where the shepherd might see it and be assured thereof; and set it up there。 Then he went up to the shepherd and said to him; 〃Yonder lion hath sent me to demand his supper of these sheep。〃 〃Where is the lion?〃 asked the shepherd; and the thief answered; 〃Lift thine eyes: there he stands。〃

The shepherd raised his eyes and seeing the stuffed hide; deemed it a very lion and was mightily affrighted; so he said to the thief; 〃O my brother; take what thou wilt。 I will not anywise gainsay thee。〃 So the thief took what he would of the sheep and redoubled in avidity by reason of the excess of the shepherd's affright。 Accordingly; every little while; he would go to him and frighten him; saying; 〃The lion hath need of this and that; and his intent is to do thus and thus;〃 and take what he would of the sheep; and he stinted not to do thus with him; till he had wasted the most part of his flock。 This; O king;' added the favourite; 'I tell thee but that thou suffer not the grandees of thy realm to be deluded by thy mildness and easiness of temper and presume on thee; and in sound judgment their death were better than that they deal thus with thee。' Quoth the king; 'I accept this thine admonition and will not go hearken to their counsel neither go out unto them。。

On the morrow the viziers and officers of state and heads of the people assembled and taking each his arms; repaired to the palace of the king; so they might break in upon him and slay him and make another king in his stead。 When they came to the door; they required the doorkeeper to open to them; but he refused; whereupon they sent to fetch fire; wherewith to burn down the doors and enter。 The doorkeeper; hearing what was toward amongst them; went in to the king in haste and told him that the folk were gathered together at the gate。 'And;' quoth he; 'they required me to open to them; but I refused and they have sent to fetch fire to burn down the doors withal; so they may e in to thee and slay thee。 What dost thou bid me do?' Quoth the king in himself; 'Verily; I am fallen into sheer perdition。'

Then he sent for the favourite and said to her; 'Indeed; Shimas never told me aught but I found it true; and now the folk are e; great and small; purposing to slay me and thee; and for that the doorkeeper would not open to them; they have sent to fetch fire; to burn the doors withal: so will the house be burnt and we therein。 What dost thou counsel me to do?' 'Let not thine affair affright thee;' answered she; 'no harm shall betide thee。 This is a time in which crackbrains rise against their kings。' 'But what;' asked he; 'dost thou counsel me and how shall I do in this matter?' Quoth she; 'My advice is that thou bind thy head with a fillet and feign thyself sick: then send for the vizier Shimas; who will e and see the case wherein thou art; and do thou say to him; 〃Verily I purposed to go forth to the folk this day; but this sickness hindered me。 So go thou out to them and acquaint them with my case and tell them that tomorrow I will without fail e forth to them and do their occasions and look into their affairs; so they may be reassured and their anger may subside。〃 Then do thou summon ten of thy father's stoutest slaves; men of strength and prowess; to whom thou canst entrust thyself; giving ear to thy word and obedient to thy mandment; keeping thy secret and devoted to thy love; and bid them on the morrow stand at thy head nor suffer any of the folk to enter; save one by one; and all who enter do thou bid them put to death。 If they agree with thee upon this; do thou tomorrow set up thy throne in the audiencechamber and open thy doors。

When the folk see that thou hast opened thy doors; their minds will be set at ease and they will e to thee with a whole heart; 'thinking no evil'; and seek admission to thee。 Then do thou bid admit them; one by one; even as I said to thee; and do thy will with them; but it behoveth thee begin by putting Shimas; their chief and leader; to death; for he is the Grand Vizier and head of the matter。 So slay him first and after put all the rest to death; one after another; and spare none whom thou knowest to have broken his covenant with thee; and on like wise slay all whose violence thou fearest。 lf thou deal thus with them; there will be left them no power to make head against thee; so shalt thou be altogether at rest from them and shalt enjoy thy kingship in peace and do what thou wilt; and know that there is no device that will advantage thee more than this。' 'Verily;' said the king; 'this thy counsel is just and that which thou biddest me welladvised; and I will assuredly do as thou sayest。'

So he called for a fillet and bound his head therewith and feigned sickness。 Then he sent for Shimas and said to him; 'O Shimas; thou knowest that I love thee and hearken to thy counsel and thou art to me as brother and father both in one。 Moreover; thou knowest that I do all thou biddest me and indeed thou badest me go forth to the folk and sit to judge between them。 Now I was certified that this was loyal counsel on thy part and purposed to go forth to them yesterday; but this sickness betided me and I cannot sit up。 I hear that the folk are incensed at my failure to e forth to them and are minded of their malice to do with me that which is not seemly; for that they know not what aileth me。 So go thou forth to them and acquaint them with my case and excuse me to them; for I am obedient to their bidding and will do according to their desire; wherefore do thou order this affair and engage thyself to them for me of this; for that thou hast been a loyal counsellor to me and to my father before me; and it is of thy wont to make peace between the folk。 To morrow; if it be the will of God the Most High; I will without fail e forth to them; and peradventure my sickness will cease from me this night; by the blessing of the purity of my intent and the good I purpose them in my heart。'

Shimas prostrated himself to God and called down blessings on the king and kissed his hand; rejoicing。 Then he went forth to the folk and told them what he had heard from the king and forbade them from that which they had a mind to do; acquainting them with the king's excuse for his absence and that he had promised to e forth to them on the morrow and deal with them according to their wishes; whereupon they dispersed and returned to their houses。

Meanwhile the king sent for ten slaves of gigantic stature; men of stout heart and great prowess; whom he had chosen from amongst his father's bodyguards; and said to them; 'Ye know the favour and esteem in which my father held you and all the bounties and honours he bestowed on you; and I will advance you to yet higher rank with me than this。 Now I will tell you the reason thereof and ye are under God's safeguard from me。 But 'first' I will ask you of somewhat wherein if ye do my bidding; obeying me in that which I shall mand you and keeping my secret from all men; ye shall have of me largesse and favour overplaying your desire。'

The slaves answered him with one voice; saying; 'All that thou biddest us; O our lord; will we do; nor will we anywise depart from thy mandment; for thou art our lord and master。' 'God be good to you!' said the king。 'Now will I tell you why I have chosen you out for increase of honour with me。 Ye know how generously my father dealt with the people of his dominions and the oath he took from them on my behalf and how they promised him that they would not break faith with me nor gainsay my mandment; and ye saw how they did yesterday; whenas they came all together about me and would have slain me。 Now I am minded to do with them somewhat; to wit; I have considered their fashion of yesterday and see that nought but exemplary chastisement will restrain them from the like of this; wherefore I charge you privily to put to death whom I shall point out to you; to the intent that; by slaying their leaders and chiefs; I may ward off evil and calamity from my realm; and the manner thereof shall be on this wise。 Tomorrow I will sit in this chair in this chamber and give them leave to enter; one by one; ing in at one doo

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