登陆注册
3553400000017

第17章 THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT(15)

so he took the cup from the falcon's neck and filled it with the liquid and set it before himselfwhen beholdthe falcon smote the cup and overturned it. The King took it and refilled it with the falling drops and set it before the birdthinking that it was athirst: but it smote it again and overturned it. At this,the King was vexed with the falcon and rose and filled the cup a third time and set it before the horse: but the falcon again overturned it with its wing. Then said the King'God confound theethou most mischievous of fowlsthou wilt neither drink thyself nor let me nor the horse drink!'And he smote it with his sword and cut off its wings: whereupon it erected its head and made signs as who should say'Look what is at the top of the tree.'The King raised his eyes and saw at the top of the tree a brood of snakesand this was their venom drippingwhich he had taken for water. So he repented him of having cut off the falcon's wings and mountingrode on till he reached his tents and gave the gazelle to the cook to roast. Then he sat down on his chairwith the falcon on his wrist: and presently the bird gasped and died: whereupon the King cried out in sorrow and lament for having slain the bird that had saved him from death,and repented him when repentance availed him not. Thisthenis the story of King Sindbad;and as for theeO Vizierenvy hath entered into theeand thou wouldst have me kill the physician and after repenteven as King Sindbad repented.'O mighty King,'answered the Vizier'what harm has this physician done me that I should wish his death? Indeed I only do this thing in compassion for thee and that thou mayst know the truth of the matter: else may I perish as perished the Vizier who plotted to destroy the king his master's son.'How was that? asked the Kingand the Vizier replied'KnowO Kingthat The King's Son and the Ogress.

There was once a King's son who was passionately fond of the chase;and his father had charged one of his Viziers to attend him wherever he went. One daythe prince went out to hunt,accompanied by the Vizierand as they were going alongthey saw a great wild beastwhereupon the Vizier said to the prince'Up and after yonder beast!'So the prince rode after the beast and followed ittill he was lost to sight. After awhilethe beast disappeared in the desertand the prince found himself alone,not knowing which way to turn. Presently he came upon a damsel,weepingand said to her'Who art thou?'Quoth she'I am the daughter of one of the Kings of Indiaand I was journeying through this countrywith a company of peoplewhen sleep overcame me and I fell from my horsenot knowing what I did. My people did not note my fall and went on and left me;and now I am alone and bewildered.'When the prince heard thishe had pity on her case and took her up behind himself and they rode ontill they came to some ruins;when she said to him'O my lordI wish to do an occasion here.'So he put her downand she entered the ruins and tarried there till he became impatient and went in search of her;when he was ware that she was an ogressand heard her say to her children'O my childrenI have brought you to day a fat youth.'O mother,'answered they'bring him to us,that we may browse on him our bellyful.'When the prince heard this their talkhe trembled in every nerve and made sure of destruction and turned back. The ogress came out after him and finding him terrified and tremblingsaid to him'Why dost thou fear?'Quoth he'I have an enemyof whom I am in fear.'Didst thou not say that thou wast a King's son?'asked sheand he answered 'Yes.'Then,'said she'why dost thou not give thine enemy money and so appease him?'He replied'Indeed he will not be satisfied with money nor with aught but life;and I fear him and am an oppressed man.'If thou be oppressed as thou sayst,'rejoined she'ask help of God;surely He will protect thee from thine enemy and from the mischief thou fearest from him.'So the prince raised his eyes to heaven and said'O Thou that answerest the prayer of the distressedwhen they call on Theeand dispellest evil from themO my Godsuccour me against mine enemy and turn him back from mefor Thou indeed canst do whatsoever Thou wilt.'When the ogress heard his prayershe departed from him and he resumed to the King his father and informed him of the Vizier's conduct: whereupon the King sent for the latter and put him to death. And thouO King'(continued the envious Vizier)'if thou put thy trust in this physicianhe will kill thee in the foulest fashion. Heverilywhom thou hast favoured and admitted to thy friendshipplots thy destruction:

for know that he is a spy come from a far land with intent to destroy thee. Seest thou not that he cured thee of thy distemper from withoutby means of a thing held in thy handand how canst thou be sure that he will not kill thee by some like means?'

'Thou speakest soothO Vizier of good counsel!'said the King.

'It must indeed be as thou sayst;this physician doubtless comes as a spyseeking to destroy me;and indeedif he could cure me by means of a handle held in my handhe can kill me by means of something I shall smell. But what is to be done with him?'Send after him at once,'answered the Vizier'and when he comes,strike off his head and play him falseere he play thee false;and so shalt thou ward off his mischief and be at peace from him.'Thou art rightO Vizier,'rejoined the King and sent for the physicianwho camerejoicingfor he knew not what the Compassionate had decreed unto him. As the saying runs:

Thou that fearest ill fortunebe of good heart and hope!Trust thine affairs to Him who fashioned the earth and sea!

What is decreed of God surely shall come to pass;That which is not decreed never shall trouble thee.

When Douban enteredhe recited the following verses:

If all the thanks I speak come short of that which is your due,Say for whom else my verse and prose I make except for you?

You have indeed prevented me with many an unasked boonBlest me,unhindered of excusewith favours not a few.

同类推荐
  • 后鉴录

    后鉴录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 九流绪论

    九流绪论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 归愚词

    归愚词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 有始览

    有始览

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 山铎真在禅师语录

    山铎真在禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 流风随云

    流风随云

    每一本书都是一个世界书的主角是世界的气运之子,他们无比幸运无比强大蛋蛋,所有最好的资源走向世界的顶端,这真是世界之子吗?
  • 原野上的草原

    原野上的草原

    这是一部用心来诉说蒙古草原上的感动的作品,在作者深情地勾勒下,我们仿佛能听见牧民们的放歌与交谈,孩子们的追逐与嬉闹,看见门外树桩上拴着的马,以及狗在来来回回跑。在这篇纯净的土地上,牧民们外出时家里不需锁门,对待外来的客人异常热情谦恭。这是作者的故乡,也是作者的天堂。他写草原上的每一个眼所能见、心所能感的东西,每一种东西、每一缕思绪无不洋溢着他对草原、对蒙古最热烈的、最深厚的爱。那种对自然的敬畏,对生命的热爱,读后能让人的心灵得以净化并归于平静。他的笔很淡,却写活了他所身属的草原,给人以强烈的触动。
  • 召唤养成BOSS

    召唤养成BOSS

    世界发生了巨变,所有人都可以转职成为职业者。可以进行打怪升级,就像游戏一样。可是后来慢慢的他们发现。这并不是游戏里的升级。只是一场纪元的劫难。
  • 商业创意工厂

    商业创意工厂

    本书能有效地激发你产生成功的商业创意,并且易于使用。它的结论建立在持续10年对全球顶尖的科学家、艺术家、企业家和投资家所使用的创意技术的研究之上。这本书读起来妙趣横生,里面包含了很多案例,还有很多小技巧来帮你增加创意的质量和数量。一旦你开始把书里谈到的这些策略付诸实践,你就能经常性地产生成功的商业创意,你的生活也会更加精彩。你将认识到,你脑中所灵光乍现的奇思妙想会给你的商业行动带来极大的快乐和成功,这是其他事物所难以给予你的。
  • 冲虚通妙侍宸王先生家语

    冲虚通妙侍宸王先生家语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 亘天纪元

    亘天纪元

    纪元终结,神庭覆灭,是命运的车轮,还是阴谋的推手,且看少年如何一步步扯开迷雾,创造亘古纪元。
  • 绝世药神

    绝世药神

    一代丹帝被奸人陷害从此,世上少了一个青云子,多了一个无敌纨绔重走丹药大道何以逆苍天,以我手中药!vip书友群478668611,进群需验证粉丝值,舵主以上可入
  • 婚不由己之溺爱暖妻

    婚不由己之溺爱暖妻

    本文概括:【青梅竹马】【男主腹黑伪善VS女主骄纵任性】【女先追男】【后男追女】【双处】【1V1】【HE】曾经她是方家恶女,张扬跋扈,嚣张任性。七岁扒了竹马的小裤裤,八岁掌刮白莲花,十八岁更是仗着财势棒打鸳鸯,硬把小竹马逼进了洞房里!其野蛮行径,劣迹斑斑,令人发指!谁想好景不长,因为伤人她“哐当”一声进了监狱。浑浑噩噩三年过去,再出现,人已然落魄到了谷底。抛弃大小姐的身份,她灰溜溜的把一纸协议递过去。离婚吧,她已经知错了,再也不敢强求一份不属于自己的爱情。可对方只是斜睨她一眼,淡淡的摇头。卓家没有离婚的先例,既然是她起的头,那么她就有责任把这出独角戏唱到结局。*****其实这是一个恶女从良的故事,一个恶女怒打白莲花反被暗算的故事。一个恶女洗心革面寻找春天,却被原本以为是小白兔的丈夫拖回去啪啪啪的故事。剧透篇:1:卓然是怎么也想不明白,不过三年时间,他老婆就跟脱胎换骨似的变成了另一个人。看着眼前善解人意,光彩照人的方明雅,他捂着脑袋一阵发疼。问他为什么疼?前有腹黑继兄虎视眈眈,后有清纯少年守着后门,豺狼虎豹一头接一头不停往上涌,只等着那朵家养红杏爬出墙门。追踪器、针孔摄像头、夺命连环Call他齐齐上阵,可她见招拆招通通没用。最后卓然一拍脑门,猛然想起:这老婆娶回来是做什么用的?宠!他就宠得她更无法无天,更任性妄为,除了他再没人受得了的时候,还用得着担心她红杏儿出墙吗?2:明雅是怎么也想不明白,她不过是要离个婚,怎么比登天还难呢?原本乖乖顺顺的小白兔老公,为什么打她回来以后,变得如此难搞?!先是往她手机里塞追踪器,而后更堂而皇之的在家里的每个角落里放摄像头,生怕她跑了似的,连身份证护照这些也统统没收……在一个漆黑的夜里:“等等……”“明雅,这是夫妻义务。”“疼,别压着我……”“好,换你压我。”完事后明雅咬着小手绢,看着身旁神清气爽,皮光肉滑的千年老妖精,怎么觉得,最后吃亏的还是自己?3:人人都说卓董事长娶了一个恶妻,面恶、心恶、行为恶!上挑极品小二姨,下打腹黑豺狼兄,欺得白莲没地站,兴风作浪,不得安宁。而就在全天下人都对卓然投以无限同情时,当事人却搂着爱妻施施然出现,笑得一脸无害道:我宠的,你们有意见?
  • Meditation for Daily Stress
  • 阿修罗王传4

    阿修罗王传4

    千年之后,一段往事,一个不可告人的秘密,众神之间隐藏真相,少年为寻找真相,夺得万人天下,以武相逼,揭露出惊天阴谋,故此战争爆发,揭露历史背后的污点,成为真正的-----暗黑破坏之神……