一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第59部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

；　let　her　abide　among　them；　as　she　is；　till　they　die　all；　even　to　the　last　of　them。　This　is　the　least　of　their　desert；　for　that　they　were　the　cause　of　this　great　wickedness；　ay；　and　the　origin　of　all　the　troubles　and　calamities　that　have　befallen　in　our　time；　so　shall　there　be　verified　in　them　the　words　of　him　who　said；　〃He　who　diggeth　a　pit　for　his　brother　shall　surely　himself　fall　therein；　though　he　go　long　in　safety。〃'

The　king　accepted　the　vizier's　counsel　and　sending　for　four　stalwart　female　slaves；　mitted　the　offending　women　to　them；　bidding　them　carry　them　to　the　place　of　slaughter　and　imprison　them　there　and　allow　them　every　day　a　little　coarse　food　and　a　little　troubled　water。　They　did　with　them　as　he　bade；　wherefore　the　women　mourned　sore；　repenting　them　of　that　which　they　had　done　and　lamenting　grievously。　Thus　God　gave　them　their　reward　of　abjection　in　this　world　and　prepared　for　them　torment　in　the　world　to　e；　nor　did　they　cease　to　abide　in　that　dark　and　noisome　place；　whilst　every　day　one　or　other　of　them　died；　till　they　all　perished；　even　to　the　last　of　them；　and　the　report　of　this　event　was　bruited　abroad　in　all　lands　and　countries。　This　is　the　end　of　the　story　of　the　king　and　his　viziers　and　subjects；　and　praise　be　to　God　who　causeth　peoples　to　pass　away　and　quickeh　the　rotten　bones；　Him　who　＇alone＇　is　worthy　to　be　glorified　and　magnified　and　hollowed　for　ever　and　ever！



ABOUKIR　THE　DYER　AND　ABOUSIR　THE　BARBER。

There　dwelt　once；　in　the　city　of　Alexandria；　two　men；　one　of　whom　was　a　dyer；　by　name　Aboukir；　and　the　other　a　barber　called　Abousir；　and　they　were　neighbours　in　the　market；　where　their　shops　were　side　by　side。　The　dyer　was　a　swindler　and　a　liar；　an　exceeding　wicked　man；　as　if　indeed　his　temples　were　hewn　out　of　the　rock　or　fashioned　of　the　threshold　of　a　Jewish　synagogue；　nor　was　he　ashamed　of　any　knavery　he　wrought　amongst　the　folk。　It　was　his　wont；　when　any　brought　him　stuffs　to　dye；　to　require　of　him　present　payment；　on　pretence　of　buying　dyestuffs　withal。　So　the　man　would　give　him　the　hire　in　advance　and　go　away；　and　he　would　spend　it　on　meat　and　drink；　after　which　he　would　sell　the　stuff　itself　and　spend　its　price　in　eating　and　drinking　and　what　not　else；　for　he　ate　not　but　of　the　choicest　and　most　delicate　meats　nor　drank　but　of　the　best　of　that　which　doth　away　the　wit。

When　the　owner　of　the　stuff　came　to　him；　he　would　say　to　him；　'e　to　me　tomorrow　before　sunrise　and　thou　shalt　find　thy　stuff　dyed。'　So　the　man　would　go　away；　saying　in　himself；　'One　day　is　near　another；'　and　return　next　day　at　the　appointed　time；　when　the　dyer　would　say　to　him；　'e　tomorrow；　yesterday　I　was　not　at　work；　for　I　had　with　me　guests　and　was　occupied　with　their　service　till　they　went：　but　e　tomorrow　before　sunrise　and　take　thy　stuff　dyed。'　So　he　would　go　away　and　return　on　the　third　day；　when　Aboukir　would　say　to　him；　'Indeed　yesterday　I　was　excusable；　for　my　wife　was　brought　to　bed　in　the　night　and　all　day　I　was　busy　with　one　thing　and　another；　but　tomorrow；　without　fail；　e　and　take　thy　stuff　dyed。'

When　the　man　came　again　at　the　appointed　time；　he　would　put　him　off　with　some　other　tale；　it　mattered　little　what；　and　would　swear　to　him；　nor　would　he　cease　to　promise　and　swear　to　him；　as　often　as　he　came；　till　the　customer　lost　patience　and　said；　'How　often　wilt　thou　say　to　me；　〃Tomorrow？〃　Give　me　my　stuff：　I　will　not　have　it　dyed。'　Whereupon　the　dyer　would　make　answer；　'By　Allah；　O　my　brother；　I　am　abashed　at　thee；　but　I　will　tell　the　truth　and　may　God　harm　all　who　do　folk　hurt　in　their　goods！'　The　other　would　say；　'Tell　me　what　hath　happened；'　and　Aboukir　would　answer；　'Indeed　I　dyed　thy　stuff　on　matchless　wise　and　hung　it　on　the　rope　＇to　dry；＇　but　it　was　stolen　and　I　know　not　who　took　it。'　If　the　owner　of　the　stuff　were　a　goodnatured　man；　he　would　say；　'God　will　recoup　me；'　and　if　he　were　illconditioned；　he　would　pursue　him　with　exposure　and　insult；　but　would　get　nothing　of　him；　though　he　plained　of　him　to　the　judge。

He　ceased　not　to　do　thus　till　his　report　was　noised　abroad　among　the　folk　and　they　used　to　warn　one　another　against　him　and　he　became　a　byword　amongst　them。　So　they　all　held　aloof　from　him　and　none　had　to　do　with　him　save　those　who　knew　not　his　character；　but；　for　all　this；　he　failed　not　daily　to　suffer　insult　and　disgrace　from　God's　creatures。　By　reason　of　this　his　trade　became　slack　and　he　used　to　go　to　the　shop　of　his　neighbour　the　barber　and　sit　there；　with　his　eyes　on　the　door　of　the　dyery。　Whenever　he　espied　any　one　who　knew　him　not　standing　at　the　dyerydoor；　with　a　piece　of　stuff　in　his　hand；　he　would　go　up　to　him　and　say；　'What　seekest　thou；　O　man？'　And　the　man　would　answer；　'Take　and　dye　me　this　thing。'　So　the　dyer　would　say；　'What　colour　wilt　thou　have　it？'　For；　with　all　his　knavery；　he　could　dye　all　manner　of　colours；　but　he　never　kept　faith　with　any　one；　so　poverty　had　gotten　the　better　of　him。　Then　he　would　take　the　stuff　and　say；　'Give　me　my　hire　in　advance　and　e　tomorrow　and　take　the　stuff。'　So　the　stranger　would　give　him　the　money　and　go　his　way；　whereupon　Aboukir　would　carry　the　stuff　to　the　market　and　sell　it　and　buy　meat　and　vegetables　and　tobacco　and　fruit　and　what　not　else　he　needed　with　the　price；　but；　whenever　he　saw　any　one　who　had　given　him　stuff　to　dye　standing　at　the　door　of　his　shop；　he　would　not　show　himself　to　him。

On　this　wise　he　abode　years　and　years；　till　it　chanced　one　day　that　he　received　stuff　to　dye　from　a　masterful　man　and　sold　it　and　spent　the　price。　The　owner　came　to　him　every　day；　but　found　him　not　in　his　shop；　for；　whenever　he　espied　any　one　who　had　a　claim　against　him；　he　would　flee　from　him　into　the　shop　of　the　barber　Abousir。　At　last；　the　angry　man；　finding　that　he　was　not　to　be　seen　and　growing　weary　of　ing；　repaired　to　the　Cadi　and　bringing　one　of　the　latter's　serjeants　to　the　shop；　nailed　up　the　door；　in　presence　of　a　number　of　Muslims；　and　sealed　it；　for　that　he　found　therein　nothing　but　some　broken　pans；　to　stand　him　instead　of　his　stuff；　after　which　the　serjeant　took　the　key；　saying　to　the　neighbours；　'Tell　him　to　bring　back　this　man's　goods　and　take　the　key　of　his　shop；'　and　went　his　way；　he　and　the　man。

Then　said　Abousir　to　Aboukir；　'What　aileth　thee？　Whoever　brings　thee　aught；　thou　losest　it　for　him。　What　is　gone　of　this　angry　man's　stuff？'　'O　my　neighbour；'　answered　the　dyer；　'it　was　stolen　from　me。'　'Wonderful！'　exclaimed　the　barber。　'Whenever　any　one　gives　thee　aught；　a　thief　steals　it　from　thee！　Art　thou　then　the　resort　of　the　whole　college　of　thieves？　But　I　doubt　me　thou　liest：　so　tell　me　the　truth。'　'O　my　neighbour；'　replied　Aboukir；　'none　hath　stolen　aught　from　me。'　'What　then　dost　thou　with　the　people's　goods？'　asked　Abousir。　And　the　dyer　said；　'Whenever　any　one　giveth　me　aught　to　dye；　I　sell　it　and　spend　the　price。'　Quoth　Abousir；　'is　this　permitted　thee　of　God？'　'I　only　do　this　out　of　poverty；'　answered　Aboukir；　'because　trade　is　dull　with　me　and　I　am　poor　and　have　nothing。'　And　he　went　on　to　plain　to　him　of　the　slackness　of　his　trade　and　his　lack　of　means。

Abousir　in　like　manner　lamented　the　slackness　of　his　own　trade；　saying；　'I　am　a　master　of　my　craft　and　have　not　my　equal　in　this　city；　but　no　one　is　shaved　at　my　shop；　because　I　am　a　poor　man；　and　I　loathe　this　craft；　O　my　brother。'　'And　I　also；'　answered　Aboukir；　'loathe　my　own　craft；　by　reason　of　its　slackness；　but；　O　my　brother；　what　call　is　there　for　our　abiding　in　this　city？　Let　us　depart　from　it　and　divert　ourselves　with　foreign　travel；　carrying　our　crafts　in　our　hands；　the　which　are　in　demand　in　all　countries；　so　shall　we　breathe　the　air　and　be　rid　of　this　grievous　trouble。'　And　he　ceased　not　to　mend　travel　to　Abousir；　till　the　latter　became　wishful　to　set　out；　whereat　Aboukir　rejoiced　and　recited　the　following　verses：

　　Forsake　thy　native　land；　it　thou　advancement　seek；　and　hie　Abroad　for　five　advantages　in　foreign　travel　lie。
　　The　putting　off　of　care；　the　gain　of　livelihood　and　lore　And　manners　and　the　pany　of　noble　folk　and　high。
　　If　it　be　said；　'Distress　and　woe　and　severance　of　loves　And　hardships　still　in　travel　be　beneath　a　foreign　sky；'
　　I　trow　'twere　better　for　a　man　that　he　should　die　than　live　Still　in　humiliation's　house；　'twixt　envier　and　spy。　
Then　they　agreed　to　travel　together　and　Aboukir　said　to　Abousir；　'O　my　neighbour；　we　are　bee　brethren　and　there　is　no　difference　between　us；　so　it　behoves　us　to　recite　the　first　chapter　of　the　Koran　＇in　token　of　agreement＇　that　he　of　us　who　gets　work　shall　of　his　profit　feed　him　who　is　out　of　work；　and　whatever　is　left；　we　will　lay　in　a　chest；　and　when　we　e　back　to　Alexandria　we　will　divide　it　fairly　and　equally。'　'So　be　it；'　answered　Abousir；　and　they　repeated　the　first　chapter　of　the　Koran　on　this　understanding。　Then　Ahousir　locked　up　his　shop　and　gave　the　keys　to　the　landlord；　whilst　Aboukir　left　his　shop　locked　and　sealed　and　let　the　key　lie　with　the　Cadi's　serjeant；　after　which　they　took　their　gear　and　embarked　on　the　morrow　in　a　galleon　upon　the　salt　sea。　They　set　sail　the　same　day　and　fortune　attended　them；　for；　of　Abousir's　great　good　luck；　of　all　that　were　in　the　ship　（and　there　were　therein　an　hundred　and　twenty　men；　besides　the　captain　and　the　crew；）　there　was　not　a　single　barber。　So；　when　th