一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第63部分

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laves　take　them；　for　they　are　a　gift　from　me　to　you。'　So　they　obeyed　his　mandment　and　took　each　his　own；　whilst　the　barber　said　to　the　king；　'God　ease　thee；　O　king　of　the　age；　even　as　thou　hast　eased　me　of　these　ghouls；　whom　none　may　fill　save　God！'　The　king　laughed；　and　gave　him　reason；　then；　taking　the　grandees　of　his　realm；　returned　to　his　palace；　but　Abousir　passed　the　night　in　counting　his　money　and　laying　it　up　in　bags　and　sealing　them；　and　he　had　with　him　twenty　black　slaves　and　a　like　number　of　white　and　four　slavegirls　to　serve　him。

On　the　morrow；　as　soon　as　it　was　day；　he　opened　the　bath　and　sent　out　a　crier　to　make　proclamation；　saying；　'Whoso　entereth　the　bath　and　washeth　shall　give　that　which　he　can　afford　and　which　his　generosity　deemeth　fit。'　Then　he　seated　himself　by　the　chest　and　customers　flocked　in　upon　him；　each　putting　down　that　which　was　easy　to　him；　nor　was　eventide　e　before　the　chest　was　full　of　the　good　gifts　of　God　the　Most　High。　Presently　the　queen　desired　to　go　to　the　bath；　and　when　this　came　to　Abousir's　knowledge；　he　divided　the　day；　on　her　account；　into　two　parts；　appointing　the　time　between　daybreak　and　noon　to　the　men　and　that　between　noon　and　sundown　to　the　e；　he　stationed　a　female　slave　behind　the　paychest；　for　he　had　taught　four　slavegirls　the　service　of　the　bath；　so　that　they　were　bee　expert　bathwomen。　So；　when　the　queen　entered；　this　pleased　her　and　her　breast　dilated　and　she　laid　down　a　thousand　dinars。

On　this　wise　his　report　was　noised　abroad　in　the　city；　and　all　who　entered　the　bath　he　entreated　with　honour；　were　they　rich　or　poor；　and　good　came　in　upon　him　at　every　door。　Moreover　he　made　acquaintance　with　the　king's　officers　and　got　him　friends　and　panions。　The　king　himself　used　to　e　to　him　one　day　in　every　week；　and　the　other　days　of　the　week　were　for　rich　and　poor　alike；　and　he　was　wont　to　deal　courteously　with　the　folk　and　use　them　with　the　utmost　of　consideration。　It　chanced　that　the　king's　seacaptain　came　in　to　him　one　day　in　the　bath；　so　Abousir　put　off　his　clothes　and　going　in　with　him；　proceeded　to　shampoo　him　and　entreated　him　with　the　utmost　courtesy。　When　he　came　forth；　he　made　him　sherbet　and　coffee；　and　when　he　would　have　given　him　somewhat；　he　swore　that　he　would　accept　nothing　from　him。　So　the　captain　abode　under　obligation　to　him；　by　reason　of　his　exceeding　kindness　and　courtesy　to　him；　and　kne　his　generous　dealing　with　him。

Meanwhile　Aboukir；　bearing　all　the　people　talking　rapturously　of　the　bath　and　saying；　'Verily；　this　bath　is　the　Paradise　of　this　world！　God　willing；　O　such　an　one；　thou　shalt　go　with　us　tomorrow　to　this　delectable　bath；'　said　to　himself；　'Needs　must　I　go　like　＇the　rest　of　the＇　folk　and　see　this　bath　that　hath　taken　their　wits。'　So　he　donned　his　richest　clothes　and　mounting　a　mule；　rode　to　the　bath；　attended　by　four　white　slaves　and　four　black；　walking　before　and　behind　him。　When　he　alighted　at　the　door；　he　smelt　the　fragrance　of　burning　aloeswood　and　saw　people　going　in　and　out　and　the　benches　full　of　great　and　small。　So　he　entered　the　vestibule　and　saw　Abousir；　who　rose　to　him　and　rejoiced　in　him：　but　the　dyer　said　to　him；　'Is　this　the　fashion　of　men　of　honour？　I　have　opened　me　a　dyery　and　am　bee　masterdyer　of　the　city　and　acquainted　with　the　king　and　have　risen　to　fortune　and　lordship；　yet　camest　thou　not　to　me　nor　askedst　of　me　nor　saidst；　〃Where　is　my　rade？〃　For　my　part；　I　sought　thee　in　vain　and　sent　my　slaves　and　Servants　to　make　search　for　thee　in　all　the　inns　and　other　places；　but　they　knew　not　whither　thou　hadst　gone；　nor　could　any　give　me　news　of　thee。'　Quoth　Abousir；　'Did　I　not　e　to　thee　and　didst　thou　not　make　me　out　a　thief　and　beat　me　and　disgrace　me　before　the　folk？'

At　this　Aboukir　made　a　show　of　concern　and　said；　'What　manner　of　talk　is　this？　Was　it　thou　whom　I　beat？'　'Yes；'　answered　Abousir；　'it　was　I。'　Whereupon　Aboukir　swore　to　him　a　thousand　oaths　that　he　knew　him　not　and　said；　'There　was　a　fellow　like　unto　thee；　who　used　to　e　every　day　and　steal　the　people's　stuff；　and　I　took　thee　for　him。'　And　he　went　on　to　feign　repentance；　beating　hand　upon　hand　and　saying；　'There　is　no　power　and　no　virtue　save　in　God　the　Most　High；　the　Supreme！　Indeed；　I　have　sinned　against　thee；　but　would　that　thou　hadst　made　thyself　known　to　me　and　said；　〃I　am　such　an　one！〃　Indeed　the　fault　is　with　thee；　for　that　thou　madest　not　thyself　known　unto　me；　more　by　token　that　I　was　distraught　for　much　business。'　'God　pardon　thee；　o　my　rade！'　replied　Abousir。　'This　was　foreordained；　and　reparation　is　with　God。　Enter　and　put　off　thy　clothes　and　bathe　at　thine　ease。'　'I　conjure　thee　by　Allah；　O　my　brother；'　said　the　dyer；　'five　me！'　And　Abousir　said；　'God　acquit　thee　of　blame　and　five　thee！　Indeed　this　thing　was　decreed　to　me　from　all　eternity。'

Then　said　Aboukir；　'Whence　gottest　thou　this　lordship？'　'He　who　prospered　thee　prospered　me；'　answered　Abousir。　'For　I　went　up　to　the　king　and　set　forth　to　him　the　fashion　of　the　bath；　and　he　bade　me　build　one。'　And　the　dyer　said；　'Even　as　thou　art　an　acquaintance　of　the　king；　so　also　am　I；　and　God　willing；　I　will　make　him　love　and　barr　tender　thee　more　than　ever；　for　my　sake；　for　he　knows　not　that　thou　art　my　rade；　but　I　will　tell　him　of　this　and　mend　thee　to　him。'　'There　needs　no　mendation；'　answered　Abousir；　'for　He　who　inclib　＇men's　hearts　unto　love＇　is　＇ever＇present；　and　indeed　the　king　and　all　his　court　love　me　＇already＇　and　have　given　me　this　and　that。'　And　he　told　him　the　whole　story　and　said　to　him；　'Put　off　thy　clothes　behind　the　chest　and　enter　the　bath；　and　I　will　go　in　with　thee　and　shampoo　thee。'　So　he　put　off　his　clothes　and　Abousir；　entering　the　bath　with　him；　soaped　him　and　shampooed　him　and　busied　himself　with　his　service　till　he　came　forth；　when　he　brought　him　the　morning　meal　and　sherbets；　whilst　all　the　folk　marvelled　at　the　honour　he　did　him。

Then　Aboukir　would　have　given　him　somewhat；　but　he　swore　that　he　would　take　nothing　from　him　and　said　to　him；　'Shame　upon　thee！　Thou　art　my　rade；　and　there　is　no　difference　between　us。'　'By　Allah；　O　my　rade；'　said　Aboukir；　'this　is　a　fine　bath　of　thine；　but　there　lacks　one　thing　to　thy　fashion　therein。'　'And　what　is　that？'　asked　Abousir。　'It　is　the　depilatory；　to　wit；　the　paste　pounded　of　orpiment　and　quicklime；'　answered　the　dyer；　'that　removes　the　hair　with　ease。　Do　thou　prepare　it　and　next　time　the　king　es；　present　it　to　him；　teaching　him　how　he　shall　cause　the　hair　fall　off　by　means　thereof；　and　he　will　love　thee　with　an　exceeding　love　and　honour　thee。'　Quoth　Abousir；　'Thou　sayst　sooth；　and　if　it　be　the　will　of　God　the　Most　High；　I　will　do　this。'

Then　Aboukir　mounted　his　mule　and　riding　to　the　palace；　went　in　to　the　king　and　said　to　him；　'O　king　of　the　age；　I　have　a　warning　to　give　thee。'　'And　what　is　thy　warning？'　asked　the　king。　Quoth　Aboukir；　'I　hear　that　thou　hast　built　a　bath。'　'Yes；　answered　the　king；　'there　came　to　me　a　stranger　and　I　founded　the　bath　for　him；　even　as　I　founded　the　dyery　for　thee；　and　indeed　it　is　a　magnificent　bath　and　an　ornament　to　my　city。'　And　he　went　on　to　set　forth　to　him　the　virtues　of　the　bath。　'Hast　thou　entered　therein？'　asked　the　dyer。　And　the　king　answered；　'Yes。'　'Praised　be　God；'　exclaimed　Aboukir；　'who　hath　preserved　thee　from　the　mischief　of　yonder　villain　and　enemy　of　the　faith；　to　wit；　the　bathkeeper！'　'And　what　of　him？'　asked　the　king。　'Know；　O　king　of　the　age；'　replied　Aboukir；　'that；　if　thou　enter　the　bath　again；　after　this　day；　thou　wilt　surely　perish。'　'How　so？'　inquired　the　king；　and　the　dyer　answered；　'This　bathkeeper　is　thine　enemy　and　the　enemy　of　the　faith；　and　he　induced　thee　not　to　set　up　this　bath　but　because　he　designed　to　poison　thee　therein。　He　hath　made　for　thee　somewhat　which；　when　thou　enterest　the　bath；　he　will　present　to　thee；　saying；　〃This　is　an　unguent；　which　if　one　apply　to　his　privy　parts；　it　will　remove　the　hair　with　ease。〃

Now　it　is　no　unguent；　but　a　deadly　drug　and　a　violent　poison；　for　the　Sultan　of　the　Christians　hath　promised　this　filthy　fellow　to　release　to　him　his　wife　and　children；　if　he　will　kill　thee；　for　they　are　captives　in　the　hands　of　the　Sultan　in　question。　I　myself　was　captive　with　him　in　their　land；　but　I　opened　a　dyery　and　dyed　for　them　various　colours；　so　that　they　inclined　the　king's　heart　unto　me　and　he　bade　me　ask　a　boon　of　him。　I　sought　of　him　freedom　and　he　set　me　free；　whereupon　I　made　my　way　hither；　and　seeing　yonder　man　in　the　bath；　asked　him　how　he　had　effected　his　escape　and　that　of　his　wife　and　children。　Quoth　he；　〃We　ceased　not　to　be　in　captivity；　I　and　my　wife　and　children；　till　one　day　the　King　of　the　Christians　held　a　court；　at　which　I　was　present；　amongst　a　number　of　other　people。　Presently；　I　heard　them　discourse　of　the　kings　and　name　them；　one　after　another；　till　they　came　to　the　name　of　the　king　of　this　city；　whereupon　the　King　of　the　Christians　cried　out；　'Alas！'　and　said；　'None　irketh　me　（191）　in　the　world；　but　the　king　of　such　a　city！　（192）　Whosoever　will　contrive　me　his　slaughter；　I　will　give　him　all　he　asks。'　So　I　went　up　to　him　and　said；　'If　I　contrive　thee　his　slaughter；　wilt　thou　set　me　free；　me　and　my　wife　and　children？'　'Yes；'　answered　the　king；　'and　I　will　give　thee　＇to　boot＇　whatsoever　thou　shalt　desire。

So　we　agreed　upon　this