一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第59章

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nd　trapping　a　lion；　skinned　him　and　stuffed　his　hide　with　straw；　after　which　he　carried　it　to　a　high　place；　where　the　shepherd　might　see　it　and　be　assured　thereof；　and　set　it　up　there。　Then　he　went　up　to　the　shepherd　and　said　to　him；　〃Yonder　lion　hath　sent　me　to　demand　his　supper　of　these　sheep。〃　〃Where　is　the　lion？〃　asked　the　shepherd；　and　the　thief　answered；　〃Lift　thine　eyes：　there　he　stands。〃

The　shepherd　raised　his　eyes　and　seeing　the　stuffed　hide；　deemed　it　a　very　lion　and　was　mightily　affrighted；　so　he　said　to　the　thief；　〃O　my　brother；　take　what　thou　wilt。　I　will　not　anywise　gainsay　thee。〃　So　the　thief　took　what　he　would　of　the　sheep　and　redoubled　in　avidity　by　reason　of　the　excess　of　the　shepherd's　affright。　Accordingly；　every　little　while；　he　would　go　to　him　and　frighten　him；　saying；　〃The　lion　hath　need　of　this　and　that；　and　his　intent　is　to　do　thus　and　thus；〃　and　take　what　he　would　of　the　sheep；　and　he　stinted　not　to　do　thus　with　him；　till　he　had　wasted　the　most　part　of　his　flock。　This；　O　king；'　added　the　favourite；　'I　tell　thee　but　that　thou　suffer　not　the　grandees　of　thy　realm　to　be　deluded　by　thy　mildness　and　easiness　of　temper　and　presume　on　thee；　and　in　sound　judgment　their　death　were　better　than　that　they　deal　thus　with　thee。'　Quoth　the　king；　'I　accept　this　thine　admonition　and　will　not　go　hearken　to　their　counsel　neither　go　out　unto　them。。

On　the　morrow　the　viziers　and　officers　of　state　and　heads　of　the　people　assembled　and　taking　each　his　arms；　repaired　to　the　palace　of　the　king；　so　they　might　break　in　upon　him　and　slay　him　and　make　another　king　in　his　stead。　When　they　came　to　the　door；　they　required　the　doorkeeper　to　open　to　them；　but　he　refused；　whereupon　they　sent　to　fetch　fire；　wherewith　to　burn　down　the　doors　and　enter。　The　doorkeeper；　hearing　what　was　toward　amongst　them；　went　in　to　the　king　in　haste　and　told　him　that　the　folk　were　gathered　together　at　the　gate。　'And；'　quoth　he；　'they　required　me　to　open　to　them；　but　I　refused　and　they　have　sent　to　fetch　fire　to　burn　down　the　doors　withal；　so　they　may　e　in　to　thee　and　slay　thee。　What　dost　thou　bid　me　do？'　Quoth　the　king　in　himself；　'Verily；　I　am　fallen　into　sheer　perdition。'

Then　he　sent　for　the　favourite　and　said　to　her；　'Indeed；　Shimas　never　told　me　aught　but　I　found　it　true；　and　now　the　folk　are　e；　great　and　small；　purposing　to　slay　me　and　thee；　and　for　that　the　doorkeeper　would　not　open　to　them；　they　have　sent　to　fetch　fire；　to　burn　the　doors　withal：　so　will　the　house　be　burnt　and　we　therein。　What　dost　thou　counsel　me　to　do？'　'Let　not　thine　affair　affright　thee；'　answered　she；　'no　harm　shall　betide　thee。　This　is　a　time　in　which　crackbrains　rise　against　their　kings。'　'But　what；'　asked　he；　'dost　thou　counsel　me　and　how　shall　I　do　in　this　matter？'　Quoth　she；　'My　advice　is　that　thou　bind　thy　head　with　a　fillet　and　feign　thyself　sick：　then　send　for　the　vizier　Shimas；　who　will　e　and　see　the　case　wherein　thou　art；　and　do　thou　say　to　him；　〃Verily　I　purposed　to　go　forth　to　the　folk　this　day；　but　this　sickness　hindered　me。　So　go　thou　out　to　them　and　acquaint　them　with　my　case　and　tell　them　that　tomorrow　I　will　without　fail　e　forth　to　them　and　do　their　occasions　and　look　into　their　affairs；　so　they　may　be　reassured　and　their　anger　may　subside。〃　Then　do　thou　summon　ten　of　thy　father's　stoutest　slaves；　men　of　strength　and　prowess；　to　whom　thou　canst　entrust　thyself；　giving　ear　to　thy　word　and　obedient　to　thy　mandment；　keeping　thy　secret　and　devoted　to　thy　love；　and　bid　them　on　the　morrow　stand　at　thy　head　nor　suffer　any　of　the　folk　to　enter；　save　one　by　one；　and　all　who　enter　do　thou　bid　them　put　to　death。　If　they　agree　with　thee　upon　this；　do　thou　tomorrow　set　up　thy　throne　in　the　audiencechamber　and　open　thy　doors。

When　the　folk　see　that　thou　hast　opened　thy　doors；　their　minds　will　be　set　at　ease　and　they　will　e　to　thee　with　a　whole　heart；　＇thinking　no　evil＇；　and　seek　admission　to　thee。　Then　do　thou　bid　admit　them；　one　by　one；　even　as　I　said　to　thee；　and　do　thy　will　with　them；　but　it　behoveth　thee　begin　by　putting　Shimas；　their　chief　and　leader；　to　death；　for　he　is　the　Grand　Vizier　and　head　of　the　matter。　So　slay　him　first　and　after　put　all　the　rest　to　death；　one　after　another；　and　spare　none　whom　thou　knowest　to　have　broken　his　covenant　with　thee；　and　on　like　wise　slay　all　whose　violence　thou　fearest。　lf　thou　deal　thus　with　them；　there　will　be　left　them　no　power　to　make　head　against　thee；　so　shalt　thou　be　altogether　at　rest　from　them　and　shalt　enjoy　thy　kingship　in　peace　and　do　what　thou　wilt；　and　know　that　there　is　no　device　that　will　advantage　thee　more　than　this。'　'Verily；'　said　the　king；　'this　thy　counsel　is　just　and　that　which　thou　biddest　me　welladvised；　and　I　will　assuredly　do　as　thou　sayest。'

So　he　called　for　a　fillet　and　bound　his　head　therewith　and　feigned　sickness。　Then　he　sent　for　Shimas　and　said　to　him；　'O　Shimas；　thou　knowest　that　I　love　thee　and　hearken　to　thy　counsel　and　thou　art　to　me　as　brother　and　father　both　in　one。　Moreover；　thou　knowest　that　I　do　all　thou　biddest　me　and　indeed　thou　badest　me　go　forth　to　the　folk　and　sit　to　judge　between　them。　Now　I　was　certified　that　this　was　loyal　counsel　on　thy　part　and　purposed　to　go　forth　to　them　yesterday；　but　this　sickness　betided　me　and　I　cannot　sit　up。　I　hear　that　the　folk　are　incensed　at　my　failure　to　e　forth　to　them　and　are　minded　of　their　malice　to　do　with　me　that　which　is　not　seemly；　for　that　they　know　not　what　aileth　me。　So　go　thou　forth　to　them　and　acquaint　them　with　my　case　and　excuse　me　to　them；　for　I　am　obedient　to　their　bidding　and　will　do　according　to　their　desire；　wherefore　do　thou　order　this　affair　and　engage　thyself　to　them　for　me　of　this；　for　that　thou　hast　been　a　loyal　counsellor　to　me　and　to　my　father　before　me；　and　it　is　of　thy　wont　to　make　peace　between　the　folk。　To　morrow；　if　it　be　the　will　of　God　the　Most　High；　I　will　without　fail　e　forth　to　them；　and　peradventure　my　sickness　will　cease　from　me　this　night；　by　the　blessing　of　the　purity　of　my　intent　and　the　good　I　purpose　them　in　my　heart。'

Shimas　prostrated　himself　to　God　and　called　down　blessings　on　the　king　and　kissed　his　hand；　rejoicing。　Then　he　went　forth　to　the　folk　and　told　them　what　he　had　heard　from　the　king　and　forbade　them　from　that　which　they　had　a　mind　to　do；　acquainting　them　with　the　king's　excuse　for　his　absence　and　that　he　had　promised　to　e　forth　to　them　on　the　morrow　and　deal　with　them　according　to　their　wishes；　whereupon　they　dispersed　and　returned　to　their　houses。

Meanwhile　the　king　sent　for　ten　slaves　of　gigantic　stature；　men　of　stout　heart　and　great　prowess；　whom　he　had　chosen　from　amongst　his　father's　bodyguards；　and　said　to　them；　'Ye　know　the　favour　and　esteem　in　which　my　father　held　you　and　all　the　bounties　and　honours　he　bestowed　on　you；　and　I　will　advance　you　to　yet　higher　rank　with　me　than　this。　Now　I　will　tell　you　the　reason　thereof　and　ye　are　under　God's　safeguard　from　me。　But　＇first＇　I　will　ask　you　of　somewhat　wherein　if　ye　do　my　bidding；　obeying　me　in　that　which　I　shall　mand　you　and　keeping　my　secret　from　all　men；　ye　shall　have　of　me　largesse　and　favour　overplaying　your　desire。'

The　slaves　answered　him　with　one　voice；　saying；　'All　that　thou　biddest　us；　O　our　lord；　will　we　do；　nor　will　we　anywise　depart　from　thy　mandment；　for　thou　art　our　lord　and　master。'　'God　be　good　to　you！'　said　the　king。　'Now　will　I　tell　you　why　I　have　chosen　you　out　for　increase　of　honour　with　me。　Ye　know　how　generously　my　father　dealt　with　the　people　of　his　dominions　and　the　oath　he　took　from　them　on　my　behalf　and　how　they　promised　him　that　they　would　not　break　faith　with　me　nor　gainsay　my　mandment；　and　ye　saw　how　they　did　yesterday；　whenas　they　came　all　together　about　me　and　would　have　slain　me。　Now　I　am　minded　to　do　with　them　somewhat；　to　wit；　I　have　considered　their　fashion　of　yesterday　and　see　that　nought　but　exemplary　chastisement　will　restrain　them　from　the　like　of　this；　wherefore　I　charge　you　privily　to　put　to　death　whom　I　shall　point　out　to　you；　to　the　intent　that；　by　slaying　their　leaders　and　chiefs；　I　may　ward　off　evil　and　calamity　from　my　realm；　and　the　manner　thereof　shall　be　on　this　wise。　Tomorrow　I　will　sit　in　this　chair　in　this　chamber　and　give　them　leave　to　enter；　one　by　one；　ing　in　at　one　doo