The King, on hearing this, sent to the prison for Bakhtyār, and desired the executioner to attend. When the unfortunate young man came before the King, he requested a respite2 only of two days, in the course of which he hoped his innocence3 might be proved; “although,” said he, “I know that the malice4 of one’s enemies is a flame from which it is almost impossible to escape: as appears from the story of Abū Temām, who, on the strength of a false accusation5, 98was put to death by the King, and his innocence acknowledged when too late.”
“Who was that Abū Temām?” demanded the King, “and what were those malicious6 accusations7 which prevailed against him?”
STORY OF ABū TEMāM.
Abū Temām (said Bakhtyār) was a very wealthy man, who resided in a city, the King of which was so tyrannical and unjust, that whatever money any one possessed8 above five direms he seized on for his own use. Abū Temām was so disgusted and terrified by the oppressions and cruelties of this King, that he never enjoyed one meal in peace or comfort, until he had collected all his property together and contrived9 to escape from that place. After some time he settled in the capital of another King, a city adorned10 with gardens, and well supplied with running streams. This King was a man of upright and virtuous11 principles, renowned12 for hospitality and kindness to strangers. In this capital Abū Temām purchased a magnificent mansion13, in which he sumptuously15 entertained 99the people of the city, presenting each of them, at his departure, with a handsome dress suited to his rank. The inhabitants were delighted with his generosity16, and his hospitality was daily celebrated17 by the strangers who resorted to his house. He also expended18 considerable sums in the erection of bridges, caravanseries, and mosques19. At last the fame of his liberality and munificence20 reached the King, who sent to him two servants with a very flattering message and an invitation to court. This Abū Temām thankfully accepted; and having prepared the necessary presents for the King, he hastened to the palace, where he kissed the ground of obedience21 and was graciously received.
In a short time he became so great a favourite that the King would not permit him to be one day absent, and heaped on him so many favours that he was next in power to his royal master; and his advice was followed in all matters of importance.
But this King had ten viziers, who conceived a mortal hatred22 against Abū Temām, and said, one to another: “He has robbed us of all dignity and power, and we must devise some means whereby we 100may banish23 him from this country.” The chief vizier proposed that, as the King was a very passionate24 admirer of beauty, and the Princess of Turkestān one of the loveliest creatures of the age, they should so praise her charms before him as to induce him to send Abū Temām to ask her in marriage; and as it was the custom of the King of Turkestān to send all ambassadors who came on that errand to his daughter, who always caused their heads to be cut off, so the destruction of Abū Temām would be certain.
This advice all the other viziers approved of; and, having proceeded to the palace, they took an opportunity of talking on various subjects, until the King of Turkestān was mentioned, when the chief vizier began to celebrate the charms of the lovely Princess.
When the King heard the extravagant25 praises of her beauty, he became enamoured, and declared his intention of despatching an ambassador to the court of Turkestān, and demanding the Princess in marriage. The viziers immediately said, that no person was so properly qualified26 for such an embassy as Abū Temām. The King accordingly sent for him, and, addressing him as his father and friend, informed him that he 101had now occasion for his assistance in the accomplishment27 of a matter on which his heart was bent28. Abū Temām desired to know what his Majesty29’s commands might be, and declared himself ready to obey them. The King having communicated his design, all the necessary preparations were made, and Abū Temām set out on his journey to the court of Turkestān. In the meantime the viziers congratulated one another on the success of their stratagem30.
When the King of Turkestān heard of Abū Temām’s arrival, he sent proper officers to receive and compliment him, and on the following day gave him a public audience; and when the palace was cleared of the crowd, and Abū Temām had an opportunity of speaking with the King in private, he disclosed the object of his mission, and demanded the Princess for his master. The King acknowledged himself highly honoured by the proposal of such an alliance, and said: “I fear that my daughter is not qualified for so exalted31 a station as you offer; but if you will visit her in the harem, and converse32 with her, you may form an opinion of her beauty and accomplishments33; and if you approve of her, preparations for the marriage shall be made without delay.”
102Abū Temām thanked his Majesty for this readiness in complying with his demands; but said that he could not think of profaning34 the beauty of her who was destined35 for his sovereign by gazing on her, or of allowing his ears to hear the forbidden sounds of her voice;—besides, his King never entertained a doubt on the subject of her charms and qualifications: the daughter of such a monarch36 must be worthy37 of any King, but he was not sent to make any inquiry38 as to her merits, but to demand her in marriage.
The King of Turkestān, on hearing this reply, embraced Abū Temām, and said: “Within this hour I meditated39 thy destruction; for of all the ambassadors who have hitherto come to solicit40 my daughter, I have tried the wisdom and talents, and have judged by them of the Kings who employed them, and finding them deficient41, I have caused their heads to be cut off.” On saying this, he took from under his robe a key, with which he opened a lock, and going into another part of the palace, he exhibited to Abū Temām the heads of four hundred ambassadors.
After this the King directed the necessary preparations for the departure of his daughter, and invested 103Abū Temām with a splendid robe of honour, who, when ten days had elapsed, embarked42 in a ship with the Princess, her damsels, and other attendants. The news of his arrival with the fair Princess of Turkestān being announced, the King, his master, was delighted, and the viziers, his mortal enemies, were confounded at the failure of their stratagems43. The King, accompanied by all the people, great and small, went two stages to meet Abū Temām and the Princess, and, having led her into the city, after three days celebrated their marriage by the most sumptuous14 feasts and rejoicings, and bestowed44 a thousand thanks on Abū Temām, who every day became a greater favourite.
The ten viziers, finding, in consequence of this, their own importance and dignity gradually reduced, consulted one with another, saying: “All that we have hitherto done only tends to the exaltation of Abū Temām; we must devise some other means of disgracing him in the King’s esteem45, and procuring46 his banishment47 from this country.”
After this they concerted together, and at length resolved to bribe48 two boys, whose office was to rub 104the King’s feet every night after he lay down on his bed; and they accordingly instructed these boys to take an opportunity, when the King should close his eyes, of saying that Abū Temām had been ungrateful for the favours bestowed on him; that he had violated the harem, and aspired49 to the Queen’s affections, and had boasted that she would not have come from Turkestān had she not been enamoured of himself. This lesson the viziers taught the boys, giving them a thousand dīnars, and promising50 five hundred more.
When it was night the boys were employed as usual in their office of rubbing the King’s feet; and when they perceived his eyes to be closed, they began to repeat all that the viziers had taught them to say concerning Abū Temām.
The King, hearing this, started up, and dismissing the boys, sent immediately for Abū Temām, and said to him: “A certain matter has occurred, on the subject of which I must consult you; and I expect that you will relieve my mind by answering the question that I shall ask.”—Abū Temām declared himself ready to obey.—“What, then,” demanded the King, “does that servant merit, who, in return for various 105favours, ungratefully attempts to violate the harem of his sovereign?”—“Such a servant,” answered Abū Temām, “should be punished with death: his blood should expiate51 his offence.” When Abū Temām had said this, the King drew his scimitar, and cut off his head, and ordered his body to be cast into a pit.
For some days he gave not audience to any person, and the viziers began to exult52 in the success of their stratagem; but the King was melancholy53, and loved to sit alone, and was constantly thinking of the unfortunate Abū Temām.
It happened, however, that one day the two boys who had been bribed54 by the viziers were engaged in a dispute one with the other on the division of the money, each claiming for himself the larger share. In the course of their dispute they mentioned the innocence of Abū Temām, and the bribe which they had received for defaming him in the King’s hearing.
All this conversation the King overheard; and trembling with vexation, rage, and sorrow, he compelled the boys to relate all the circumstances of the affair; in consequence of which the ten viziers were 106immediately seized and put to death, and their houses levelled with the ground; after which the King passed his time in fruitless lamentation55 for the loss of Abū Temām.
“Thus,” said Bakhtyār, “does unrelenting malice persecute56 unto destruction; but if the King had not been so hasty in killing57 Abū Temām, he would have spared himself all his subsequent sorrow.”
The King, affected58 by this observation, resolved to indulge Bakhtyār with another day, and accordingly sent him back to prison.
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1
heinous
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| adj.可憎的，十恶不赦的 | |
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respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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4
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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6
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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7
accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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8
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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10
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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11
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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12
renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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13
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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14
sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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15
sumptuously
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| 奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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16
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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18
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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19
mosques
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| 清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 ) | |
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20
munificence
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| n.宽宏大量，慷慨给与 | |
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21
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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22
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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23
banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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24
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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25
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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28
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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29
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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31
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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32
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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34
profaning
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| v.不敬( profane的现在分词 )；亵渎，玷污 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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36
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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37
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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38
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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39
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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solicit
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| vi.勾引；乞求；vt.请求，乞求；招揽(生意) | |
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41
deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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42
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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stratagems
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| n.诡计，计谋( stratagem的名词复数 )；花招 | |
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44
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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46
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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47
banishment
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| n.放逐，驱逐 | |
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48
bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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49
aspired
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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51
expiate
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| v.抵补，赎罪 | |
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52
exult
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| v.狂喜，欢腾；欢欣鼓舞 | |
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53
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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54
bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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55
lamentation
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| n.悲叹，哀悼 | |
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56
persecute
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| vt.迫害，虐待；纠缠，骚扰 | |
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57
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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58
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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