一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第37部分

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of　our　desire：　wherefore　to　Him　be　the　praise　in　this　world　and　the　next。



KING　JELYAAD　OF　HIND　AND　HIS　VIZIER　SHIMAS；　WHEREAFTER　ENSUETH　THE　HISTORY　OF　KING　WIRD　KHAN；　SON　OF　KING　JELYAAD；　WITH　HIS　WOMEN　AND　VIZIERS。

There　was　once；　of　old　days　and　in　bygone　ages　and　times；　in　the　land　of　Hind；　a　mighty　king；　tall　and　goodly　of　parts　and　presence；　noble　and　generous　of　nature；　beneficent　to　the　poor　and　loving　the　tillers　of　the　soil　and　all　the　people　of　his　kingdom。　His　name　was　Jelyaad　and　under　his　hand　were　twoandseventy　＇vassal＇　kings　and　in　his　cities　three　hundred　and　fifty　Cadis。　He　had　threescore　and　ten　viziers　and　over　every　ten　of　them　he　set　a　chief。　The　chiefest　of　all　his　viziers　was　a　man　called　Shimas；　who　was　then　（141）　twoandtwenty　years　old；　a　man　of　ely　presence　and　noble　nature；　pleasant　of　speech　and　quick　in　reply。　Moreover；　he　was　shrewd　and　skilful　in　all　manner　of　business；　for　all　his　tender　age；　sagacious；　a　man　of　good　counsel　and　government；　versed　in　all　arts　and　sciences　and　acplishments；　and　the　king　loved　him　with　an　exceeding　love　and　cherished　him　by　reason　of　his　proficiency　in　eloquence　and　rhetoric　and　the　art　of　government　and　for　that　which　God　had　given　him　of　passion　and　tender　solicitude　for　the　people；　for　he　was　a　king　just　in　his　governance　and　a　protector　of　his　subjects；　constant　in　beneficence　to　great　and　small　and　giving　them　that　which　befitted　them　of　good　governance　and　bounty　and　protection　and　security　and　a　lightener　of　their　burdens。　And　indeed　he　was　loving　to　them　all；　high　and　low；　entreating　them　with　kindness　and　clemency　and　governing　them　on　such　goodly　wise　as　none　had　done　before　him。　But；　with　all　this；　God　the　Most　High　had　not　blessed　him　with　a　child；　and　this　was　grievous　to　him　and　to　the　people　of　his　kingdom。

It　chanced；　one　night；　as　the　king　lay　in　his　bed；　occupied　with　anxious　thought　of　the　issue　of　the　affair　of　his　kingdom；　that　sleep　overcame　him　and　he　dreamt　that　he　poured　water　upon　the　roots　of　a　tree；　about　which　were　many　other　trees；　and　behold　there　came　fire　out　of　this　tree　and　burnt　up　all　that　enpassed　it；　whereupon　Jelyaad　awoke；　affrighted　and　trembling；　and　calling　one　of　his　servants；　bade　him　fetch　the　Vizier　Shimas　in　all　haste。　So　he　betook　himself　to　Shimas　and　said　to　him；　'The　king　calls　for　thee；　for　he　hath　awoke　from　his　sleep　in　affright　and　hath　sent　me　to　bring　thee　to　him　in　haste。'

When　Shimas　heard　this；　he　arose　forthright　and　going　in　to　the　king；　found　him　seated　on　his　bed。　So　he　prostrated　himself　before　him；　wishing　him　continuance　of　glory　and　prosperity；　and　said；　'May　God　not　cause　thee　grieve；　O　king！　What　hath　troubled　thee　this　night；　and　what　is　the　cause　of　thy　seeking　me　thus　in　haste？'　The　king　bade　him　be　seated　and　said　to　him；　'I　have　dreamt　this　night　a　dream　that　terrified　me；　and　it　was；　that　methought　I　poured　water　upon　the　roots　of　a　tree　and　as　I　was　thus　engaged；　behold；　fire　issued　therefrom　and　burnt　up　all　the　trees　that　were　about　it；　wherefore　I　was　affrighted　and　fear　took　me。　Then　I　awoke　and　sent　to　bid　thee　to　me；　because　of　thy　much　knowledge　and　skill　in　the　interpretation　of　dreams　and　of　that　which　I　know　of　the　extent　of　thy　wisdom　and　the　greatness　of　thine　understanding。'

The　vizier　bowed　his　head　awhile　and　presently　raising　it；　smiled；　whereupon　the　king　said　to　him；　'What　deemest　thou；　O　Shimas？　Tell　me　the　truth　of　the　matter　and　hide　nothing　from　me。'　'O　king；'　answered　Shimas；　'verily　God　the　Most　High　granteth　thee　thy　wish　and　solaceth　thine　eyes；　for　the　matter　of　this　dream　presageth　all　good；　to　wit；　that　God　will　bless　thee　with　a　son；　who　shall　inherit　the　kingdom　from　thee；　after　thy　long　life。　But　there　is　somewhat　else　that　I　desire　not　to　expound　at　this　present；　seeing　that　the　time　is　not　favourable　for　its　exposition。'　The　king　rejoiced　in　this　with　an　exceeding　joy　and　great　was　his　contentment；　his　trouble　ceased　from　him　and　he　said；　'If　the　case　be　thus　of　the　happy　presage　of　my　dream；　do　thou　plete　to　me　its　interpretation；　when　the　fitting　time　eth：　for　that　which　it　behoveth　not　to　expound　to　me　now；　it　behoveth　that　thou　expound　to　me；　when　its　time　eth；　so　my　joy　may　be　fulfilled；　because　I　seek　nought　in　this　but　the　approof　of　God；　blessed　and　exalted　be　He！'

When　the　vizier　saw　that　the　king　was　urgent　to　have　the　rest　of　the　exposition；　he　put　him　off　with　a　pretext；　but　Jelyaad　assembled　all　the　astrologers　and　interpreters　of　dreams　of　his　realm　and　related　to　them　his　dream；　saying；　'I　desire　you　to　tell　me　the　true　interpretation　of　this。'　Whereupon　one　of　them　came　forward　and　craved　the　king's　leave　to　speak；　which　being　granted；　he　said；　'Know；　O　king；　that　thy　Vizier　Shimas　is　nowise　unable　to　the　interpretation　of　this　thy　dream；　but　he　shrank　from　troubling　thy　repose：　wherefore　he　expounded　not　unto　thee　the　whole　thereof：　but；　if　thou　bid　me　speak；　I　will　acquaint　thee　with　that　which　he　hid　from　thee。'　'Speak　without　fear；　O　interpreter；'　replied　Jelyaad；　'and　be　truthful　in　thy　speech。'　'Know　then；　O　king；'　said　the　interpreter；　'that　there　will　be　born　to　thee　a　son　who　shall　inherit　the　kingship　from　thee；　after　thy　long　life；　but　he　shall　not　order　himself　towards　the　folk　after　thy　fashion；　but　shall　transgress　thine　ordinances　and　oppress　thy　subjects；　and　there　shall　befall　him　what　befell　the　mouse　with　the　cat。'　（142）　'I　seek　refuge　with　God　the　Most　High！'　exclaimed　the　king。　'But　what　is　the　story　of　the　cat　and　the　mouse？'　'May　God　prolong　the　king's　life！'　replied　the　interpreter。　'It　is　related　that

　The　Cat　and　the　Mouse

A　grimalkin；　that　is　to　say；　a　cat；　went　out　one　night　to　a　certain　garden；　in　quest　of　what　she　might　devour；　but　found　nothing　and　became　weak　for　the　excess　of　cold　and　rain　that　prevailed　that　night。　As　she　prowled　about　in　search　of　prey；　she　espied　a　nest　at　the　foot　of　a　tree；　and　drawing　near　unto　it；　sniffed　and　purred　about　it　till　she　scented　a　mouse　within　and　went　round　about　it；　seeking　to　enter　and　take　the　mouse。　When　the　latter　smelt　the　cat；　it　turned　its　back　to　her　and　scraped　up　the　earth　with　its　paws；　to　stop　the　door　against　her；　whereupon　she　counterfeited　a　weak　voice　and　said；　〃Why　dost　thou　thus；　O　my　brother？　I　e　to　seek　refuge　with　thee；　hoping　that　thou　wilt　take　pity　on　me　and　shelter　me　in　thy　nest　this　night；　for　I　am　weak；　because　of　the　greatness　of　my　age　and　the　loss　of　my　strength；　and　can　hardly　move。　I　have　ventured　into　this　garden　tonight；　and　how　many　a　time　have　I　prayed　for　death；　that　I　might　be　at　rest　from　this　misery！　Behold；　here　am　I　at　thy　door；　prostrate　for　cold　and　wet；　and　I　beseech　thee；　by　Allah；　take　my　hand　of　thy　charity　and　bring　me　in　with　thee　and　give　me　shelter　in　the　vestibule　of　thy　nest；　for　I　am　a　stranger　and　wretched　and　it　is　said；　'Whoso　shelters　a　stranger　and　a　wretched　one　in　his　dwelling；　his　shelter　shall　be　Paradise　on　the　Day　of　Reckoning。'　And　thou；　O　my　brother；　it　behoves　thee　to　earn　a　repense　＇from　God＇　by　succouring　me　and　suffering　me　abide　with　thee　this　night　till　the　morning；　when　I　will　go　my　way。〃　〃How　shall　I　suffer　thee　enter　my　nest；〃　answered　the　mouse；　〃seeing　that　thou　art　my　natural　enemy　and　thy　food　is　of　my　flesh？　Indeed　I　fear　lest　thou　play　me　false；　for　that　is　of　thy　nature　and　there　is　no　faith　in　thee；　and　the　byword　says；　'It　befits　not　to　entrust　a　whoremonger　with　a　fair　woman　nor　a　needy　man　with　money　nor　fire　with　firewood。'　Neither　doth　it　behove　me　to　entrust　myself　to　thee；　and　it　is　said；　'Enmity　of　kind　grows　stronger；　as　the　enemy　himself　grows　weaker。'〃

The　cat　made　answer　in　a　very　faint　voice；　as　she　were　in　the　most　piteous　case；　saying；　〃What　thou　sayest　of　admonitory　instances　is　the　truth　and　I　deny　not　my　offences　against　thee；　but　I　beseech　thee　to　five　that　which　is　past　of　the　enmity　of　kind　between　thee　and　me；　for　it　is　said；　'Whoso　fiveth　a　creature　like　himself；　his　Creator　will　five　him　his　sins。'　It　is　true　that　I　was　thy　sometime　enemy；　but　today　I　am　a　suitor　for　thy　friendship；　and　it　is　said；　'If　thou　wilt　have　thine　enemy　be　thy　friend；　do　with　him　good。'　O　my　brother；　I　swear　to　thee　by　Allah　and　make　a　binding　covenant　with　thee　that　I　will　never　do　thee　hurt；　more　by　token　that　I　have　no　power　unto　this；　wherefore　do　thou　trust　in　God　and　do　good　and　accept　my　oath　and　covenant。〃　〃How　can　I　accept　the　covenant　of　one　between　whom　and　me　there　is　a　rooted　enmity；〃　rejoined　the　mouse；　〃and　whose　wont　it　is　to　deal　treacherously　by　me？　Were　the　feud　between　us　aught　but　one　of　blood；　this　were　easy　to　me；　but　it　is　an　enmity　of　kind　between　souls；　and　it　is　said；　'He　who　trusts　himself　to　his　enemy　is　as　one　who　puts　his　hand　into　a　viper's　mouth。'〃　Quoth　the　cat；　full　of　wrath；　〃My　breast　is　straitened　and　my　soul　faints　within　me：　indeed　I　am　in　extremity　and　ere　long　I　shall　die　at　thy　door　and　my　blood　will　be　on　thy　head；　for　that　thou　hadst　it　in　thy　power　to　save　me：　and　this　is　my　last　word　to　thee。〃

With　this　the　fear　of　God　the　Most　High　overcame　the　mouse　and　pity　took　hold　upon　his　heart　and　he　said　in　himself；　〃Whoso　would　have　the　succour　of　God　the　Most　High　against　his　enemy；　let　him　entreat　him　with　passion　and　k