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！
or your country and sundering for your union and hurt for your bodies and perdition for your goods； and your enemies would exult over you。 Ye know the covenant ye made with me； and even thus shall be your covenant with this youth； and the pact that is between you and me shall be also between you and him； wherefore it behoveth you to give ear unto his mandment and obey him； for that in this is the wellbeing of your estates。 So be ye constant with him unto that wherein ye were with me and your affair shall prosper and your case be good； for； behold； he hath the kingship over you and is the lord of your fortune； and so peace be on you！' Then the deathagony seized him and his tongue was bridled： so he pressed his son to his bosom and kissed him and gave thanks unto God； after which his hour came and his soul departed ＇his body＇。
All his subjects and the people of his court mourned over him and they shrouded him and buried him with pomp and honour and reverence； after which they returned with the prince and seating him on the throne of kingship； clad him in the royal robes and crowned him with his father's crown and put the sealring on his finger。 He ordered himself towards them； a little while； after his father's fashion of mildness and justice and benevolence； till the world waylaid him and tempted him with its lusts； whereupon he seized on its pleasures and turned to its vain delights； forsaking the engagements which his father had mended to him and casting of his obedience to him； neglecting the affairs of his kingdom and walking in a road wherein was his own destruction。 In particular； the love of women was stark in him and came to such a pass that； whenever he heard tell of a fair woman； he would send and make her to wife。 After this wise； he collected women more in number than ever had Solomon； son of David； King of the children of Israel； and would shut himself up with a pany of them for a month at a time； during which he went not forth neither enquired of his kingdom or its governance nor looked into the grievances of such of his subjects as plained to him； and if they wrote to him； he returned them no answer。
When they saw his neglect of their affairs and interests and those of the state； they were assured that ere long some calamity would betide them and this was grievous to them。 So they foregathered privily and took counsel together； and one of them said to the rest； 'Let us go to Shimas； chief of the viziers； and set forth to him our case and acquaint him with the strait wherein we are by reason of this king； so he may admonish him； else； in a little； calamity will betide us； for the world hath intoxicated the king with its delights and beguiled him with its snares。' Accordingly； they repaired to Shimas and said to him； 'O wise and prudent man； the world hath dazed the king with its delights and taken him in its snares； so that he turh unto vanity and worketh for the disordering of the state。 Now with the disordering of the state the mons will be corrupted and our affairs will e to ruin。 Months and days we see him not nor eth there forth from him any mandment to us or to the vizier or whom else。 We cannot refer aught to him and he looketh not to the administration of justice nor taketh thought to the case of any of his subjects； in his heedlessness of them。 And behold we are e to acquaint thee with the truth of the affair； for that thou art the chiefest and most acplished of us and it behoveth not that calamity befall a land wherein thou dwellest； seeing that thou art most able of any to amend this thing。 Wherefore go thou and speak with him： belike he will hearken to thy word and return unto God。'
So Shimas arose forthright and repairing to the palace； foregathered with the first of the king's officers to whom he might win and said to him； 'Good my son； I beseech thee ask leave for me to go in to the king； for I have an affair； concerning which I would fain see his face and acquaint him therewith and hear what be shall answer me thereof。' 'O my lord；' answered the officer； 'by Allah； this month past hath he given none leave to e in to him； nor all this time have I looked upon his face； but I will direct thee to one who shall crave admission for thee。 Do thou lay hold of such a black； who standeth at his head and bringeth him food from the kitchen。 When he eth forth； to go to the kitchen； ask him what seemeth good to thee； for he will do for thee that which thou desirest。' So the vizier repaired to the door of the kitchen and sat there a little while； till up came the black and would have entered the kitchen； but Shimas ＇caught hold of him＇ and said to him； 'O my son； I would fain see the king and speak with him of somewhat that nearly concerh him； so prithee； of thy kindness； when he hath made an end of his morningmeal and his soul is refreshed； speak thou for me to him and get leave for me to e in to him； so I may bespeak him of that which shall please him。' 'I hear and obey；' answered the black and taking the food； carried it to the king； who ate thereof and his soul was refreshed。
Then said the black to him； 'Shimas standeth at the door and craveth admission； so he may acquaint thee with matters that particularly concern thee。' At this the king anded to admit the vizier。 So the black went forth to Shimas and bade him enter； whereupon he went in and prostrating himself before God； kissed the king's hands and called down blessings upon him。 Then said the king； 'O Shimas； what hath betided thee that thou seekest admission unto me？' And he answered； saying； 'This long while have I not looked upon the face of my lord the king and indeed I longed sore for thee。 So； behold； I have seen thy countenance and e to thee with a word which I would fain say to thee； O king stablished in all prosperity。' Quoth the king； 'Say what seemeth good to thee；' and Shimas said； 'O king； verily God the Most High hath endowed thee； for all the tenderness of thy years； with knowledge and wisdom such as He never vouchsafed unto any of the kings before thee； and hath fulfilled the measure of His bounties to thee with the kingship； and He liveth not that thou depart from that wherewith He hath endowed thee unto other than it； by means of thy disobedience to Him； wherefore it behoveth thee not to wage war upon （179） Him with thy treasures； but to be mindful of His injunctions and obedient unto His mandments。 This I say because I have seen thee； this while past； fet thy father and his injunctions and forswear his covenant and neglect his admonition and renounce his justice and wise governance； remembering not God's bounty to thee neither requiting it with gratitude to Him。'
'How so？' asked the king。 'And what is the manner of this？' 'The manner of it；' replied Shimas； 'is that thou neglectest to attend to the affairs of the state and that which God hath mitted unto thee of the interests of thy subjects and surrenderest thyself to thine own inclinations； in that which they make fair to thee of the paltry lusts of the world。 Verily it is said that the welfare of the state and the faith and the people is of the things over which it behoveth the king to keep watch； wherefore it is my counsel； O king； that thou look well to the issue of thine affair； for thus wilt thou find the manifest road wherein is salvation； and give not thyself up to a trifling evanescent delight that leadeth to the abyss of destruction； lest there befall thee that which befell the fisherman。' 'What was that？' asked the king； and Shimas said； 'I have heard tell that
The Foolish Fisherman。
A fisherman went forth one day to a certain river； to fish there； as of his wont； and when he came thither and walked upon the bridge； he saw a great fish in the water and said to himself； 〃It will not serve me to abide here； but I will follow yonder fish whithersoever it doeth； till I take it。 for it will dispense me from fishing days and days。〃 So he put off his clothes and plunged into the river after the fish。 The current bore him along till he overtook it and laid hold of it； when he turned and found himself far from land。 However； he would not loose the fish and return； but ventured himself and gripping it fast with both hands； let his body float with the current； which carried him on till it cast him into a whirlpool which none might enter and be saved therefrom。 With this he fell to crying out and saying； 〃Save a drowning man！〃 And there came to him folk of the keepers of the river and said to him； 〃What ailed thee to cast thyself into this grievous peril？' Quoth he； 〃It was I myself who forsook the plain way wherein was salvation and gave myself over to coveting and perdition。〃 〃O fellow；〃 said they； 〃why didst thou leave the way of safety and cast thyself into this destruction； knowing from of old that none may enter herein and be saved？ What hindered thee from throwing away what was in thy hand and saving thyself？ So hadst thou escaped with thy life and not fallen into this perdition； from which there is no deliverance； and now not one of us can rescue thee from this strait。〃 So the man gave up hope of life and lost that which was in his hand and for which his soul had prompted him to venture himself and perish miserably。 And I tell thee not this parable； O king；' added Shi