一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第62部分

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　to　the　king；　and　he　will　mit　thee　to　the　master　of　police；　that　he　may　strike　off　thy　head。　Begone；　may　God　not　bless　thee！'

So　Abousir　＇arose　and＇　departed　from　him；　brokenhearted　by　reason　of　the　beating　and　humiliation　that　had　betided　him；　whilst　the　bystanders　said　to　Aboukir；　'What　hath　this　man　done？'　Quoth　he；　'He　is　a　thief；　who　steals　the　people's　goods：　he　hath　robbed　me　of　stuffs；　how　many　a　time！　and　I　still　said　in　myself；　〃God　five　him！　He　is　a　poor　man；〃　and　cared　not　to　deal　harshly　with　him；　so　I　used　to　give　the　folk　the　worth　of　their　goods　and　forbid　him　gently；　but　he　would　not　be　forbidden；　and　if　he　e　again；　I　will　send　him　to　the　king；　who　will　put　him　to　death　and　rid　the　folk　of　his　mischief。'　And　the　bystanders　fell　to　reviling　the　barber　in　his　absence。

Meanwhile；　the　latter　returned　to　the　khan；　where　he　sat　pondering　that　which　Aboukir　had　done　with　him；　till　the　pain　of　the　beating　subsided；　when　he　went　out　and　walked　about　the　markets　of　the　city。　Presently；　he　bethought　him　to　go　to　the　bath；　so　he　said　to　one　of　the　townsfolk；　'O　my　brother；　which　is　the　way　to　the　bath？〃　'And　what　manner　of　thing　is　the　bath？'　asked　the　other。　Quoth　Abousir；　'It　is　a　place　where　people　wash　themselves　and　do　away　their　defilements；　and　it　is　of　the　best　of　the　good　things　of　the　world。'　'Get　thee　to　the　sea；'　replied　the　townsman；　but　the　barber　replied；　'I　want　the　bath。'　Quoth　the　other；　'We　know　not　what　manner　of　thing　is　the　bath；　for　we　all　resort　to　the　sea；　even　the　king；　when　he　would　wash；　betaketh　himself　to　the　sea。'

When　Abousir　was　certified　that　there　was　no　bath　in　the　city　and　that　the　people　knew　not　the　bath　nor　the　fashion　thereof　he　betook　himself　to　the　king's　divan　and　kissing　the　earth　before　him；　called　down　blessings　on　him　and　said；　'I　am　a　stranger　and　a　bathkeeper　by　trade；　and　I　entered　thy　city　and　thought　to　go　to　the　bath；　but　found　not　one　therein。　How　eth　a　city　of　this　ely　fashion　to　lack　a　bath；　seeing　that　the　bath　is　of　the　goodliest　of　the　delights　of　this　world？'　Quoth　the　king；　'What　manner　of　thing　is　the　bath？'　So　Abousir　proceeded　to　set　forth　to　him　the　attributes　of　the　bath；　saying；　'Thy　city　will　not　be　plete　till　there　be　a　bath　in　it。'　'Wele　to　thee！'　said　the　king　and　clad　him　in　a　dress　that　had　not　its　like　and　gave　him　a　horse　and　two　black　and　two　white　slaves　and　four　slavegirls。　Moreover　he　appointed　him　a　furnished　house　and　honoured　him　yet　more　abundantly　than　he　had　honoured　the　dyer。

Then　he　sent　builders　with　him　and　bade　them　build　him　a　bath　in　what　place　soever　should　please　him。　So　he　took　them　and　went　with　them　through　the　midst　of　the　city；　till　he　saw　a　place　that　pleased　him。　He　pointed　it　out　to　the　builders　and　they　set　to　work；　under　his　direction；　and　wrought　till　they　built　him　a　bath　that　had　not　its　like。　Then　he　made　them　paint　it；　and　they　painted　it　on　rare　wise；　so　that　it　was　a　delight　to　the　beholders；　after　which　Abousir　went　up　to　the　king　and　told　him　that　they　had　made　an　end　of　building　and　decorating　the　bath；　adding；　'There　lacks　nought　but　the　furniture。'　The　king　gave　him　ten　thousand　dinars；　with　which　he　furnished　the　bath　and　ranged　the　napkins　on　the　cords；　and　all　who　passed　by　the　door　stared　at　it　and　their　mind　was　confounded　at　its　decorations。　So　the　people　crowded　to　this　thing；　whose　like　they　had　never　in　their　lives　seen；　and　stood　staring　at　it　and　saying；　'What　is　this　thing？'　To　which　Abousir　replied；　'This　is　a　bath；'　and　they　marvelled　thereat。

Then　he　heated　water　and　set　the　bath　awork；　and　he　made　a　fountain　in　the　＇central＇　basin；　which　ravished　the　wit　of　all　who　saw　it　of　the　people　of　the　city。　Moreover　he　sought　of　the　king　ten　white　slaves　not　yet　e　to　manhood；　and　he　gave　him　ten　boys　like　moons：　whereupon　Abousir　proceeded　to　shampoo　them；　saying；　'Do　thus　and　thus　with　the　customers；'　＇till　they　were　perfect　in　the　bathman's　craft＇。　Then　he　burnt　perfumes　and　sent　out　a　crier　to　cry　aloud　in　the　city；　saying；　'O　creatures　of　God；　get　ye　to　the　bath；　for　it　is　called　the　Sultan's　Bath！'　So　the　people　came　to　the　bath　and　Abousir　bade　the　slaveboys　wash　their　bodies。　The　folk　went　down　into　the　bath　and　ing　forth；　seated　themselves　on　the　estrade；　whilst　the　boys　shampooed　them；　even　as　Abousir　had　taught　them；　and　they　ceased　not　to　enter　the　bath　and　do　their　occasion　thereof　and　go　out；　without　paying；　for　the　space　of　three　days。

Then　the　barber　invited　the　king；　who　took　horse　with　his　grandees　and　rode　to　the　bath；　where　he　put　oft　his　clothes　and　entered；　whereupon　Abousir　came　in　to　him　and　rubbed　his　body　with　the　bathgloves；　peeling　the　dirt　from　his　skin　＇in　rolls＇　like　lampwicks　and　showing　them　to　the　king；　who　rejoiced　therein；　till　his　body　shone　for　very　smoothness　and　purity；　after　which　Abousir　mingled　rosewater　with　the　water　of　the　tank　and　the　king　went　down　therein。　When　he　came　forth；　his　body　was　refreshed　and　he　felt　a　lightness　and　liveliness　such　as　he　had　never　in　his　life　known。　Then　the　barber　made　him　sit　on　the　estrade　and　the　boys　proceeded　to　shampoo　him；　whilst　the　censers　smoked　with　the　finest　aloeswood。

Then　said　the　king；　'O　master；　is　this　the　bath？'　And　Abousir　answered；　'Yes。'　'As　my　head　liveth；'　quoth　the　king；　'my　city　is　not　bee　a　city　indeed　but　by　this　bath！　But　what　pay　takest　thou　for　each　person？'　'That　which　thou　biddest　me　will　I　take；'　replied　Abousir；　and　the　king　said；　'Take　a　thousand　dinars　for　every　one　who　washeth　in　thy　bath。'　But　Abousir　said；　'Pardon；　O　king　of　the　age！　All　men　are　not　alike；　but　there　are　amongst　them　rich　and　poor；　and　if　I　take　of　each　a　thousand　dinars；　the　bath　will　stand　empty；　for　the　poor　man　cannot　avail　to　this　price。'　'How　then　wilt　thou　do　for　the　price？'　asked　the　king。　'I　will　leave　it　to　the　generosity　＇of　the　customers＇；'　answered　the　barber。　'Each　who　can　afford　aught　shall　pay　that　which　his　soul　grudgeth　not　to　give；　and　we　will　take　from　every　man；　after　the　measure　of　his　condition。　So　will　the　folk　e　to　us　and　he　who　is　rich　shall　give　according　to　his　station　and　he　who　is　poor　shall　give　what　he　can　afford。　On　this　wise　the　bath　will　still　be　at　work　and　prosper；　but　a　thousand　dinars　is　a　king's　gift；　and　not　every　man　can　avail　thereto。'

The　grandees　of　the　kingdom　confirmed　Abousir's　words；　saying；　'This　is　the　truth；　O　king　of　the　age！　Thinkest　thou　that　all　folk　are　like　unto　thee；　O　glorious　king？'　'You　say　sooth；'　answered　the　king；　'but　this　man　is　a　stranger　and　poor　and　it　behoveth　us　to　deal　generously　with　him；　for　that　he　hath　made　in　our　city　this　bath；　whose　like　we　have　never　in　our　lives　seen　and　without　which　our　city　were　not　adorned　nor　had　gotten　importance；　wherefore；　if　we　guerdon　him　with　increase　of　pay；　it　will　not　be　much。'　But　the　grand　ees　said；　'If　thou　wilt　guerdon　him；　let　it　be　of　thine　own　monies；　and　be　the　king's　bounty　extended　to　the　poor　by　means　of　the　low　price　of　the　bath；　so　the　folk　may　bless　thee；　but；　as　for　the　thousand　dinars；　we　are　the　grandees　of　thine　empire；　yet　do　our　souls　grudge　to　pay　it；　and　how　then　should　the　poor　afford　it？'　Quoth　the　king；　'O　my　grandees；　for　this　time　let　each　of　you　give　him　a　hundred　dinars　and　a　white　slave　and　a　black　and　a　slavegirl。'　'It　is　well；'　answered　they；　'but　after　today　each　who　enters　shall　give　him　only　what　he　can　afford；　without　grudging。'　'So　be　it；'　said　the　king；　and　they　gave　him　each　as　he　had　said。

Now　the　number　of　the　nobles　who　were　washed　with　the　king　that　day　was　four　hundred　souls；　so　that　the　sum　of　that　which　they　gave　him　was　forty　thousand　dinars；　besides　four　hundred　black　and　four　hundred　white　slaves　and　a　like　number　of　slavegirls。　Moreover；　the　king　gave　him　ten　thousand　dinars；　besides　ten　white　slaves　and　ten　black　and　a　like　number　of　slavegirls；　whereupon　Abousir　kissed　the　earth　before　him　and　said；　'O　august　king；　lord　of　just　judgment；　what　place　will　suffice　me　for　all　these　slaves　and　women？'　Quoth　the　king；　'O　lackwit；　I　bade　not　my　nobles　deal　thus　with　thee　but　that　we　might　gather　together　unto　thee　great　plenty　of　wealth；　for　maybe　thou　wilt　bethink　thee　of　thy　country　and　family　and　yearn　unto　them　and　be　minded　to　return　to　thy　native　place；　so　shalt　thou　take　from　our　country　store　of　wealth；　to　maintain　thyself　withal；　what　while　thou　livest　in　thine　own　land。'　'O　king　of　the　age；'　replied　Abousir；　（may　God　advance　thee！）　these　many　slaves　and　women　are　a　king's　behoof；　and　hadst　thou　ordered　me　ready　money；　it　were　more　profitable　to　me　than　this　army；　for　they　must　eat　and　drink　and　be　clothed；　and　whatever　betideth　me　of　wealth；　it　will　not　suffice　to　their　support。'

The　king　laughed　and　said；　'By　Allah；　thou　sayst　sooth！　They　are　indeed　a　mighty　host；　and　thou　mayst　not　avail　unto　their　maintenance；　but　wilt　thou　sell　them　to　me　for　a　hundred　dinars　each？'　Quoth　Abousir；　'I　sell　them　to　thee　at　that　price。'　So　the　king　sent　to　his　treasurer　for　the　money　and　he　brought　it　and　gave　Abousir　the　whole　of　the　price；　in　full；　after　which　the　king　restored　the　slaves　to　their　former　owners；　saying；　'Let　each　of　you　who　knoweth　his　slaves　take　them；　for　they　are　a　gift　from　me　to　you。'　So　they　obeyed　his　mandment　and　took　each　his