一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第64部分

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ee　the　victory　over　thy　foes　and　those　who　purpose　thee　ill。　Know；　O　king；　that　thy　father　was　my　brother　and　that　there　were　between　us　in　his　lifetime　pacts　and　covenants　of　friendship；　and　never　had　he　of　me　nor　I　of　him　other　than　good；　and　when　he　was　translated　＇to　the　mercy　of　God＇　and　thou　sattest　upon　the　throne　of　his　kingship；　there　betided　us　the　utmost　joy　and　contentment；　but；　when　the　news　reached　us　of　that　which　thou　didst　with　thy　viziers　and　the　notables　of　thy　state；　we　feared　lest　the　report　of　thee　should　e　to　the　ears　of　some　king　other　than　ourselves　and　he　should　presume　against　thee；　for　that　we　deemed　thee　neglectful　of　thine　affairs　and　of　the　maintenance　of　thy　defences　and　careless　of　the　interests　of　thy　kingdom；　so　we　wrote　unto　thee　what　should　arouse　thee　＇from　thy　torpor＇。　But；　when　we　saw　that　thou　returnest　us　the　like　of　this　answer；　our　heart　was　set　at　ease　for　thee；　may　God　give　thee　enjoyment　of　thy　kingdom　and　stablish　thee　in　thy　dignity！　And　so　peace　be　on　thee。'

Then　he　despatched　the　letter　and　the　present　to　Wird　Khan　with　an　escort　of　a　hundred　horse；　who　fared　on　till　they　came　to　his　court　and　saluting　him；　presented　him　with　the　letter　and　the　gifts。　The　king　read　the　letter　and　accepted　the　presents；　lodging　the　captain　of　the　escort　in　a　befitting　place　and　entreating　him　with　honour。　So　the　news　of　this　was　bruited　abroad　among　the　people　and　the　king　rejoiced　therein　with　an　exceeding　joy。　Then　he　sent　for　the　boy；　the　son　of　Shimas；　and　the　captain　of　the　hundred　horse；　and　entreating　the　young　vizier　with　honour；　gave　him　the　letter　to　read；　whilst　he　himself　upbraided　the　captain　concerning　the　king's　conduct；　and　the　latter　kissed　his　hand　and　made　his　excuses　to　him；　offering　up　prayers　for　the　continuance　of　his　life　and　the　eternity　of　his　fortune。　The　king　thanked　him　for　his　good　wishes　and　bestowed　upon　him　honours　and　largesse　galore。　Moreover；　he　gave　his　men　what　befitted　them　and　made　ready　presents　to　send　by　them　and　bade　the　young　vizier　write　an　answer　to　their　king's　letter。

So　the　boy　wrote　an　answer；　wherein；　after　an　elegant　exordium；　he　touched　briefly　on　the　question　of　reconciliation　and　praised　the　good　breeding　of　the　envoy　and　of　his　men；　and　showed　it　to　the　king；　who　said　to　him；　'Read　it；　O　dear　boy；　that　we　may　know　what　is　written　therein。'　So　the　boy　read　the　letter　in　the　presence　of　the　hundred　horse；　and　the　king　and　all　present　marvelled　at　the　excellence　of　its　style　and　sense。　Then　the　king　sealed　the　letter　and　delivering　it　to　the　captain　of　the　hundred　horse；　dismissed　him　with　an　escort　of　his　own　troops；　to　bring　him　to　the　frontier　of　his　country。　So　the　captain　returned；　confounded　at　that　which　he　had　seen　of　the　boy's　knowledge　and　sagacity　and　thanking　God　for　the　speedy　acplishment　of　his　errand　and　the　acceptance　of　＇the　proffered＇　peace；　to　the　King　of　Farther　India；　to　whom　he　delivered　the　presents　and　the　letter；　telling　him　what　he　had　seen　and　heard；　whereat　the　king　was　mightily　rejoiced　and　returned　thanks　to　God　the　Most　High　and　honoured　the　envoy；　lauding　his　care　and　zeal　and　advancing　him　in　rank：　and　he　was　thenceforth　in　peace　and　tranquillity　and　all　contentment。

As　for　King　Wird　Khan；　he　returned　to　the　way　of　righteousness；　abandoning　his　evil　courses　and　turning　to　God　with　sincere　repentance；　and　he　altogether　forswore　women　and　devoted　himself　to　the　ordering　of　the　affairs　of　his　realm　and　the　governance　of　his　people　in　the　fear　of　God。　Moreover；　he　made　the　son　of　Shimas　vizier　in　his　father's　room　and　the　chief　of　his　counsellors　and　keeper　of　his　secrets　and　manded　to　decorate　his　capital　and　the　other　cities　of　his　kingdom　seven　days。　At　this　the　subjects　rejoiced；　glad　in　the　prospect　of　justice　and　equity；　and　fear　and　alarm　ceased　from　them　and　they　were　instant　in　prayer　for　the　king　and　for　the　vizier　who　had　done　away　this　trouble　from　him　and　them。

Then　said　the　king　to　the　vizier；　'What　is　thy　counsel　for　the　proper　ordering　of　the　state　and　the　prospering　of　the　people　and　the　furnishing　of　the　realm　anew　with　captains　and　counsellors　as　before？'　'O　king　of　high　estate；'　answered　the　boy；　'in　my　judgment；　it　behoves；　before　all；　that　thou　began　by　tearing　out　from　thy　heart　the　root　of　frowardness　and　leave　thy　debauchery　and　tyranny　and　devotion　to　women；　for；　if　thou　return　to　the　root　of　transgression；　the　second　backsliding　will　be　worse　than　the　first。'　'And　what；'　asked　the　king；　'is　the　root　of　frowardness　that　it　behoves　me　to　tear　out　from　my　heart？'　'O　mighty　king；'　answered　the　vizier；　little　of　years　but　great　of　wit；　'the　root　of　frowardness　is　the　ensuing　the　desire　of　women　and　inclining　to　them　and　following　their　counsel　and　policy；　for　the　love　of　them　troubles　the　soundest　wit　and　corrupts　the　most　upright　nature；　and　manifest　proofs　bear　witness　to　my　saying；　wherein；　if　thou　meditate　them　and　consider　their　actions　and　the　consequences　thereof　with　eyes　intent；　thou　wilt　find　a　loyal　counsellor　against　thine　own　soul　and　wilt　stand　in　no　need　of　my　advice。

Look　then；　thou　occupy　not　thy　heart　with　the　thought　of　women　and　do　away　the　trace　of　them　from　thy　mind；　for　that　God　the　Most　High　hath　forbidden　the　excessive　use　of　them　by　the　mouth　of　His　prophet　Moses；　so　that　quoth　a　certain　wise　king　to　his　son；　〃O　my　son；　when　thou　succeedest　to　the　throne　after　me；　spare　to　frequent　women　overmuch；　lest　thy　heart　be　led　astray　and　thy　judgment　corrupted；　for　that　their　much　frequentation　leadeth　to　love　of　them；　and　love　of　them　to　corruption　of　judgment。〃　And　the　proof　of　this　is　what　befell　our　lord　Solomon；　son　of　David　（peace　be　upon　them　both！）　whom　God　endowed　with　knowledge　and　wisdom　and　supreme　dominion　above　all　men；　nor　vouchsafed　He　to　any　of　the　kings　of　old　time　the　like　of　that　which　He　gave　him；　and　women　were　the　cause　of　his　father's　offending。

The　examples　of　this　are　many；　O　king；　and　I　do　but　make　mention　of　Solomon　to　thee　for　that　thou　knowest　that　to　none　was　given　the　like　of　the　dominion　wherewith　he　was　invested；　so　that　all　the　kings　of　the　earth　obeyed　him。　Know　then；　O　king；　that　the　love　of　women　is　the　root　of　all　evil　and　none　of　them　hath　any　judgment：　wherefore　it　behoveth　a　man　to　confine　his　use　of　them　within　the　limits　of　necessity　and　not　incline　to　them　altogether；　for　that　will　cause　him　fall　into　corruption　and　perdition。　If　thou　hearken　to　my　rede；　all　thine　affairs　will　prosper；　but；　if　thou　neglect　it；　thou　wilt　repent；　whenas　repentance　will　not　avail　thee。'

'Indeed；'　answered　the　king；　'I　have　left　my　sometime　inclination　to　women　and　have　altogether　renounced　my　infatuation　for　them；　but　how　shall　I　do　to　punish　them　for　that　which　they　have　done？　For　the　slaying　of　thy　father　Shimas　was　of　their　malice　and　not　of　my　own　will；　and　I　know　not　what　ailed　my　reason　that　I　fell　in　with　their　proposal　to　kill　him。'

Then　he　cried　out　and　groaned　and　lamented；　saying；　'Alas　for　the　loss　of　my　vizier　and　his　just　judgment　and　wise　ordinance　and　for　the　loss　of　his　like　of　the　viziers　and　notables　of　the　state　and　of　the　goodliness　of　their　apt　and　sagacious　counsels！'　'O　king；'　said　the　young　vizier；　'know　that　the　fault　is　not　with　women　alone；　for　that　they　are　like　unto　a　pleasing　modity；　whereto　the　desires　of　the　beholders　incline。　To　whosoever　desireth　and　buyeth；　they　sell　it；　but　whoso　buyeth　not；　none　forceth　him　thereto；　so　that　the　fault　is　his　who　buyeth；　especially　if　he　know　the　harmfulness　of　the　modity。　Now；　I　warn　thee；　as　did　my　father　before　me；　but　thou　hearkenedst　not　to　his　counsel。'　'O　vizier；'　answered　the　king；　'indeed　thou　hast　fixed　this　fault　upon　me；　even　as　thou　hast　said；　and　I　have　no　excuse　except　the　Divine　ordinances。'　'O　king；'　rejoined　the　vizier；　'know　that　God　hath　created　us　and　endowed　us　with　ableness　（188）　and　appointed　to　us　will　and　choice；　so；　if　we　will；　we　do；　and　if　we　will；　we　do　not。　God　mandeth　us　not　to　do　harm；　lest　sin　attach　to　us；　wherefore　it　behoveth　us　to　consider　that　which　it　is　right　to　do；　for　that　the　Most　High　mandeth　us　nought　but　good　in　all　cases　and　forbiddeth　us　only　from　evil；　but　what　we　do；　we　do　of　our　free　will；　be　it　right　or　wrong。'