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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
fall； and we will pick it up。 Then； when thou hast made an end of shaking down the fruit； e down and take thy share of that which we have gathered。〃 So he began to shake every bunch at which he could e； so that the nuts fell and the thieves picked them up and ate ＇some＇ and hid ＇other some＇ till they were all full； except the boy； who had eaten nought。
As they were thus engaged； up came the owner of the garden and said to them； 〃What do ye with this tree？〃 〃We have taken nought thereof；〃 answered they； 〃but we were passing by and seeing yonder boy on the tree； concluded that he was the owner thereof and besought him to give us to eat of the fruit。 So he fell to shaking the branches； that the nuts dropped down； and we are not at fault。〃 Quoth the master to the boy； 〃What sayst thou？〃 And he answered； 〃These men lie； but I will tell thee the truth。 It is that we all came hither together and they bade me climb the tree and shake its branches； that the nuts might fall down to them； and I obeyed them。〃 〃Verily；〃 said the master； 〃thou hast brought thyself into parlous case； but hast thou profited to eat aught of the fruit？〃 And he said； 〃I have eaten nought thereof。〃 〃Now know I thy stupidity and folly；〃 rejoined the owner of the garden； 〃in that thou hast wroughten to ruin thyself and advantage others。〃 Then said he to the thieves； 〃Go your ways： I have no resort against you。〃 But he laid hands on the boy and punished him。 On like wise；' added the favourite； 'thy viziers and officers of state would sacrifice thee to their interests and do with thee as did the thieves with the boy。' 'Thou sayst sooth；' answered the king； 'and I will not go forth to them nor leave my pleasures。'
Then he passed the night with his wife in all delight till the morning； when the chief vizier arose and assembling the officers of state； together with those of the folk who were present with them； repaired with them to the palace； glad and rejoicing ＇in the anticipation of good＇。 But the door opened not nor did the king e forth unto them nor give them leave to go in to him。 So； when they despaired of him； they said to Shimas； 'O excellent vizier and acplished sage； seest thou not the behaviour of this boy； young of years and little of wit； how he addeth falsehood to his offences？ See how he hath broken his promise to us and hath failed of that for which he engaged unto us； and this it behoveth thee join to his other sins； but we beseech thee go in to him yet again and see what is the cause of his holding back and refusal to e forth； for we doubt not but that the like of this fashion eth of his depraved nature； and indeed he hath reached the utmost pitch of stiffneckedness。'
Accordingly； Shimas went in to the king and bespoke him； saying； 'Peace be upon thee； O king！ How eth it that I see thee give thyself up to paltry pleasures and neglect the great affair whereto it behoveth thee apply thyself？ Thou art like unto a man； who had a milch camel and ing one day to milk her； the goodness of her milk caused him fet to hold fast her halter； which whenas she felt she pulled herself free and made of into the desert。 Thus he lost both milk and camel and the mischief that betided him overpassed his profit。 Wherefore do thou look unto that wherein is thy welfare and that of thy subjects； for； even as it behoveth not a man to sit for ever at the kitchen door； because he needeth food； so should he not pany overmuch with women； by reason of his inclination to them。 A man should eat but as much food as will stay his hunger and drink but what will ward of the pangs of thirst； and in like manner it behoveth the man of understanding to content himself with passing two of the fourandtwenty hours of his day with women and spend the rest in ordering his own affairs and those of his people。 For to be longer than this in pany with women is hatful both to mind and body； seeing that they mand not unto good neither direct thereto： wherefore it behoveth a man to accept from them neither speech nor deed； for indeed I have heard tell that many men have e to ruin through their women； and amongst others ＇I have heard tell of＇ a certain man who perished； for that he obeyed his wife's mandment and had to do with her ＇at an unseasonable time＇。' 'How was that？' asked the king； and Shimas answered； saying； 'They tell that
The Man and His Wilful Wife。
A certain man had a wife whom he loved and honoured； giving ear to her speech and doing according to her counsel。 Moreover； he had a garden； which he had newly planted with his own hand； and was wont to go thither every day； to tend and water it。 One day his wife said to him； 〃What hast thou planted in thy garden？〃 And he answered； 〃All that thou lovest and desirest； and I am assiduous in tending and watering it。〃 Quoth she； 〃Wilt thou not carry me thither and show it to me； so I may see it and offer thee up a prayer ＇for its prosperity＇； for that my prayers are effectual？〃 〃I will well；〃 answered he； 〃but have patience with me till the morrow； when I will e and take thee。〃 So； on the morrow； he carried her to the garden and entered with her therein。
Now two young men saw them enter from afar and said to each other； 〃Yonder man is an adulterer and yonder woman an adulteress； and they have not entered this garden but to do adultery therein。〃 So they followed them； to see what they would do； and hid themselves in a corner of the garden。 The man and his wife abode awhile therein； and presently he said to her； 〃Pray me the prayer thou didst promise me；〃 but she answered； saying； 〃I will not pray for thee； until thou fulfil my desire of that which women seek from men。〃 〃Out on thee； O woman！〃 cried he。 〃Hast thou not thy fill of me in the house？ Here I fear scandal； more by token that thou divertest me from my affairs。 Fearest thou not that some one will see us？〃 Quoth she； 〃We need have no care for that； seeing that we do neither sin nor lewdness； and as for the watering of the garden； that may wait； for that thou canst water it whenas thou wilt。〃 And she would take neither excuse nor reason from him； but was instant with him in seeking dalliance。
So he arose and lay with her； which when the young men aforesaid saw； they ran upon them and seized them； saying； 〃We will not let you go。 for ye are adulterers； and except we lie with the woman； we will denounce you to the police。〃 〃Out on you！〃 answered the man。 〃This is my wife and I am the master of the garden。〃 They paid no heed to him； but fell upon the woman； who cried out to him for succour； saying； 〃Suffer them not to defile me！〃 So he came up to them； calling out for help； but one of them turned on him and smote him with his dagger and slew him。 Then they returned to the woman and ravished her。 This I tell thee； O king' continued the vizier； 'but that thou mayst know that it behoveth not men to give ear unto a woman's talk neither obey her in aught nor accept her judgment in counsel。 Beware； then； lest thou don the garment of ignorance； after that of knowledge and wisdom； and follow perverse counsel； after knowing that which is true and profitable。 Wherefore ensue thou not a paltry pleasure； whose end is corruption and whose inclining is unto sore and uttermost perdition。'
When the king heard this； he said to Shimas； 'Tomorrow I will e forth to them； if it be the will of God the Most High。' So Shimas returned to the grandees and notables who were present and told them what the king had said。 But this came to the ears of the favourite； so she went in to the king and said to him； 'A king's subjects should be his slaves； but thou art bee a slave to thy subjects； for that thou standest in awe of them and fearest their mischief。 They do but seek to make proof of thy temper； and if they find thee weak they will disdain thee； but； if they find thee stout and brave they will stand in awe of thee。 On this wise do ill viziers with their king； for that their wiles are many： but I will make manifest unto thee the truth of their malice。 If thou fall in with their demands； they will cause thee leave thy mandment and do their will； nor will they cease to lead thee on from affair to affair till they cast thee into destruction； and thy case will be as that of the merchant and the thieves。' 'How was that？' asked the king； and she answered； 'I have heard tell that
The Merchant and the Thieves。
There was once a wealthy merchant； who set out for a certain city with merchandise； purposing to sell it there； and when he came thither； he hired a lodging there and took up his abode therein。 Now certain thieves saw him； who were wont to lie in wait for merchants； that they might steal their goods； so they went to his house and cast about to enter in； but could find no way thereto； and their captain said； 〃I will acplish you his affair。〃 Then he went away and donning a physician's habit； threw over his shoulder a bag containing medicines； with which he set out； crying； 〃Who lacks a doctor？〃 and fared on till he came to the merchant's lodging and saw him sitting eating the morning meal。 So he said to him； 〃Dost thou want a physician？〃 〃Not I；〃 answered the merchant； 〃but sit and eat with me。〃 So the thief sat down over against him and began to eat。
Now this merchant was a great eater； and the thief； seeing this； said to himself； 〃I have found my opportunity。〃 So he turned to his host and said to him； 〃It behoveth me to give thee an admonition； and after thy kindness to me； I cannot hide it from thee。 I see thee to be a great eater and the cause of this is a disorder in thy stomach； so hasten to take order for thy cure； or thine affair will end in perdition。' Quoth the merchant； 〃My body is sound and my stomach quick of digestion； and though I be a hearty eater； yet is there no disease in me； to God be the praise and the thanks！〃 〃It may so appear unto thee；〃 rejoined the thief； 〃but I know thou hast a latent disorder in thy vitals and if thou hearken to me； thou wilt medicine thyself。' 〃And where shall I find him who knoweth my remedy？〃 asked the merchant。 〃God is the Healer；〃 answered the robber； 〃but a physician like myself tendeth the sick to the best of his power。〃 And the other said； 〃Show me my remedy and give me thereof。〃 So he gave him a powder； wherein was great plenty of aloes； saying； 〃Use this tonight。〃
When the night came； the merchant tasted the powder and found it nauseous of taste； nevertheless he misdoubted not of it； but swallowed it all and found ease therefrom that night。 Next night the thief brought him another powder； wherein was yet more aloes； and he took it。 It purged him that night； but he bore with this and rejected it not。 When the thief saw that he gave ear unto his word and put trust in him； he brought him a deadly drug and gave it to him。 The merchant swallowed it and no sooner had he done this than that which was in his belly fell down and his guts were rent in sunder； and by the morrow he was a dead man； whereupon the thieves came and took all that belonged to him。 This；' added the favourite； 'I tell thee； O king； but that thou mayst not give ear to these deluders； else will there befall thee that whereby thou wilt destroy thyself。' 〃Thou sayst sooth；' replied the king； 'I will not go forth to them。'
On the morrow； the folk assembled together and repairing to the king's door； sat there the most part of the day； till they despaired of his ing forth； when they returned to Shimas and said to him； 'O sage philosopher and learned master； seest thou not that this ignorant boy doth but redouble in falsehood to us？ Verily it were of reason to take the kingdom from him and give it to another； so our affairs may be set in order and our estates maintained； but go thou in to him a third time and tell him that nought hindereth us from rising against him and taking the kingship from him but ＇the remembrance＇ of his father's goodness to us and that us of oaths and engagements ＇with respect to him＇。 However； tomorrow； we will all； to the last of us； assemble here with our arms and break down the gate of the palace； and if he e forth to us and do that which we wish； well and good； else will we go in to him and slay him and put the kingdom in another's hand。'
So Shimas went in to him and said； 'O king； that wallowest in thy lusts and thy pleasures； what is this thou dost with thyself and wh