一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第54部分

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befell　the　heathcock　with　the　tortoises。'　'What　was　that？'　asked　they；　and　he　answered；　'It　is　said　that

　The　Heathcock　and　the　Tortoises。

A　number　of　tortoises　dwelt　once　in　a　certain　island；　abounding　in　trees　and　fruits　and　streams；　and　it　chanced；　one　day；　that　a　heathcock　passing　over　the　island；　was　overe　with　heat　and　weariness　and　stayed　his　flight　there。　Presently；　looking　about　for　a　cool　place；　he　espied　the　resort　of　the　tortoises　and　lighted　down　therein。　Now　they　were　then　abroad　in　quest　of　food　and　when　they　returned　from　their　feedingplaces　to　their　dwelling；　they　found　the　heathcock　there。　His　beauty　pleased　them　and　God　made　him　fair　in　their　eyes；　so　that　they　extolled　their　Creator　and　loved　the　heathcock　with　an　exceeding　love　and　rejoiced　in　him；　saying　one　to　another；　〃Assuredly　this　is　of　the　goodliest　of　the　birds。〃　And　they　began　to　caress　him　and　entreat　him　with　kindness。　When　he　saw　that　they　looked　on　him　with　eyes　of　affection；　he　inclined　to　them　and　made　friends　with　them　and　took　up　his　abode　with　them；　Eying　away　in　the　morning　whither　he　would　and　returning　at　eventide　to　pass　the　night　with　them。

After　awhile；　the　tortoises；　seeing　that　his　＇daylong＇　absence　from　them　desolated　them　and　finding　that　they　saw　him　not　but　by　night；　（for　at　break　of　day　he　still　took　flight　in　haste　and　they　knew　not　what　came　of　him；　for　all　their　love　to　him；）　said　to　each　other；　〃Indeed；　we　love　this　heathcock　and　he　is　bee　our　friend　and　we　cannot　brook　parting　from　him；　so　how　shall　we　do　to　make　him　abide　with　us　always？　For　he　flies　away　at　daybreak　and　is　absent　from　us　all　day　and　we　see　him　not　save　by　night。〃　Quoth　one　of　them；　〃Be　easy；　O　my　sisters。　I　will　bring　him　not　to　leave　us　for　the　twinkling　of　an　eye。〃　And　the　rest　answered；　saying；　〃An　thou　do　this；　we　will　all　be　thy　slaves。〃

So；　when　the　heathcock　came　back　from　his　feedingplace　and　sat　down　amongst　them；　the　wily　tortoise　drew　near　unto　him　and　called　down　blessings　on　him；　giving　him　joy　of　his　safe　return　and　saying；　〃O　my　lord；　know　that　God　hath　vouchsafed　thee　our　love　and　hath　in　like　manner　set　in　thy　heart　the　love　of　us；　so　that　thou　art　bee　to　us　a　familiar　friend　and　a　rade　in　this　desert　place。　Now　the　goodliest　of　times　for　those　who　love　each　other　is　when　they　are　in　pany　and　the　sorest　of　afflictions　for　them　is　absence　and　separation。　But　thou　leavest　us　at　peep　of　day　and　returnest　not　to　us　till　sundown；　wherefore　there　betideth　us　sore　desolation。　Indeed　this　is　exceeding　grievous　unto　us　and　we　abide　in　sore　longing　by　reason　thereof。〃

〃Indeed；〃　answered　the　bird；　〃I　love　you　also　and　yearn　for　you　yet　more　than　you　for　me；　nor　is　it　easy　for　me　to　leave　you；　but　I　have　no　help　for　this；　seeing　that　I　am　a　bird　with　wings　and　may　not　abide　with　you　always；　because　that　is　not　of　my　nature。　For　a　bird；　being　a　winged　creature；　may　not　remain　still；　except　it　be　for　the　sake　of　sleep　at　night；　but；　as　soon　as　it　is　day；　he　flies　away　and　seeks　his　food　in　what　place　soever　pleases　him。〃　〃True；〃　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