九味书屋 > 文学经管电子书 > mc.eatersofthedead >

第15部分

mc.eatersofthedead-第15部分

小说: mc.eatersofthedead 字数: 每页4000字

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!



 That evening there was a great celebration; and King Rothgar and his Queen Weilew; in a garment dripping gemstones and gold; presided over the nobles and warriors and earls of the kingdom of Rothgar。 These nobles were a paltry lot; they were old men and drank overmuch and many were crippled or wounded。 In the eyes of all of them was the hollow stare of fear; and there was hollowness in their merriment; too。
 Also there was the son named Wiglif; of whom I have earlier spoken; the son of Rothgar who murdered three of his brothers。 This man was young and slender with a blond beard and with eyes that never settled on anything; but moved about here and there constantly; also he never met the gaze of another。 Herger saw him and said; 〃He is a fox。〃 By this he meant that he was a slippery and changeable person of false demeanor; for the North people believe the fox is an animal that can assume any form it pleases。
 Now; in the middle portion of the festivities; Rothgar sent his herald to the doors of Hurot Hall; and this herald reported that the mist would not descend that night。 There was much happiness and celebration over this announcement that the night was clear; all were pleased save Wiglif。
 At a particular time; the son Wiglif rose to his feet and said; 〃I drink honor to our guests; and especially Buliwyf; a brave and true warrior who has e to aid us in our plight…although it may prove too great an obstacle for him to overe。〃 Herger whispered these words to me; and I caught that it was praise and insult in one breath。
 All eyes turned to Buliwyf for his response。 Buliwyf stood; and looked to Wiglif; and then said; 〃I have no fear of anything; even the callow fiend that creeps at night to murder men in their sleep。 This I took to refer to the 〃wendol;〃 but Wiglif turned pale and gripped the chair in which he sat。
 〃Do you speak of me?〃 Wiglif said; in a trembling tongue。
 Buliwyf made this response: 〃No; but I do not fear you any more than the monsters of the mist。〃
 The young man Wiglif persisted; although Rothgar the King called for him to be seated。 Wiglif said to all the assembled nobles: 〃This Buliwyf; arrived from foreign shores; has by appearance great pride and great strength。 Yet have I arranged to test his mettle; for pride may cover any man's eyes。〃
 Now I saw this thing happen: a strong warrior; seated at a table near the door; behind Buliwyf; rose with speed; plucked up a spear; and charged at the back of Buliwyf。 All this happened in less time than it takes a man to suck in his breath。19 Yet also Buliwyf turned; plucked up a spear; and with this he caught the warrior full into the chest; and lifted him by the shaft of the spear high over his head and flung him against a wall。 Thus was this warrior skewered on the spear; his feet dangling above the floor; kicking; the shaft of the spear was buried into the wall of the hall of Hurot。 The warrior died with a sound。
 Now there came much motion; and Buliwyf turned to face Wiglif; and said; 〃So shall I dispatch any menace;〃 and then with great immediacy Herger spoke; in an overloud voice; and made many gestures toward my person。 I was much confused by these events; and in truth my eyes were stuck upon this dead warrior pinned to the wall。
 Then Herger turned to me; and said in Latin; 〃You shall sing a song for the court of King Rothgar。 All desire it。〃
 I asked of him; 〃What shall I sing? I know no song。〃 He made this reply: 〃You will sing something that entertains the heart。〃 And he added; 〃Do not speak of your one God。 No one cares for such nonsense。〃
 In truth; I did not know what to sing; for I am no minstrel。 A time passed while all stared toward me; and there was silence in the hall。 Then Herger said to me; 〃Sing a song of kings and valor in battle。〃
 I said that I knew no such songs; but that I could tell them a fable; which in my country was accounted funny and entertaining。 To this he said that I had made a wise choice。 Then I told them…King Rothgar; his Queen Weilew; his son Wiglif; and all the assembled earls and warriors…the story of Abu Kassim's slippers; which all know。 I spoke lightly; and smiled all the while; and in the first instance the Northmen were pleased; and laughed and slapped their bellies。
 But now this strange event occurred。 As I continued in my telling; the Northmen ceased to laugh; and turned gloomy by degrees; ever more so; and when I had finished the tale; there was no laughter; but dire silence。
 Herger said to me; 〃You could not know; but that is no tale for laughter; and now I must make amends;〃 and thereupon he said some speech that I took to be a joke at my own expense; and there was general laughter; and at length the celebration remenced。
 
 The story of Abu Kassim's slippers is ancient in Arabic culture; and was well known to Ibn Fadlan and his fellow Bagdad citizens。
 The story exists in many versions; and can be told briefly or elaborately; depending upon the enthusiasm of the teller。 Briefly; Abu Kassim is a rich merchant and a miser who wishes to hide the fact of his wealth; in order to strike better bargains in his trade。 To give the appearance of poverty; he wears a pair of particularly tawdry; miserable slippers; hoping that people will be fooled; but nobody is。 Instead; the people around him think he is silly and preposterous。
 One day; Abu Kassim strikes a particularly favorable bargain in glassware; and decides to celebrate; not in the accepted manner of treating his friends to a feast; but by treating himself to the small selfish luxury of a visit to the public baths。 He leaves his clothes and shoes in the anteroom; and a friend berates him for his worn and inappropriate shoes。 Abu Kassim replies that they are still serviceable; and he enters the bath with his friend。 Later; a powerful judge also es to the baths; and disrobes; leaving behind an elegant pair of slippers。 Meanwhile; Abu Kassim departs from the bath and cannot find his old slippers; in their place he finds a new and beautiful pair of shoes; and; presuming these to be a present from his friend; he puts them on and leaves。
 When the judge leaves; his own slippers are missing; and all he can find are a miserable; tawdry pair of slippers; which everyone knows belong to the miser Abu Kassim。 The judge is angry; servants are dispatched to retrieve the missing slippers; and they are soon found upon the very feet of the thief; who is hauled into court before the magistrate and severely fined。
 Abu Kassim curses his bad luck; and once home flings the unlucky slippers out of his window; where they fall into the muddy Tigris River。 Some days later; a group of fishermen haul in their catch; and find along with some fish the slippers of Abu Kassim; the hobnails of these slippers have torn their nets。 Enraged; they throw the soggy slippers through an open window。 The window happens to be that of Abu Kassim; the slippers fall upon the newly purchased glassware and smash it all。
 Abu Kassim is heartbroken; and grieves as only a stingy miser can。 He vows the wretched slippers shall do him no further harm and; to be certain; goes to his garden with a shovel and buries them。 As it happens; his next…door neighbor sees Abu Kassim digging; a menial task fit only for a servant。 The neighbor assumes that if the master of the house is doing this chore himself; it must be in order to bury treasure。 Thus the neighbor goes to the Caliph and informs on Abu Kassim; for according to the laws of the land; any treasure found in the ground is the property of the Caliph。
 Abu Kassim is called before the Caliph; and when he reports that he buried only a pair of old slippers; the court laughs uproariously at the obviousness of the merchant's attempt to conceal his true; and illegal; purpose。 The Caliph is angry to be thought such a fool as to be given this silly lie; and increases the magnitude of his fine accordingly。 Abu Kassim is thunderstruck when sentence is passed; and yet he is obliged to pay。
 Abu Kassim is now determined to be rid of his slippers once and for all。 To be certain of no further trouble; he makes a pilgrimage far from town and drops the slippers into a distant pond; watching them sink to the bottom with satisfaction。 But the po

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的