13-the story of a gazelle-第1部分

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THE　STORY　OF　A　GAZELLE

Once　upon　a　time　there　lived　a　man　who　wasted　all　his　money；　and
grew　so　poor　that　his　only　food　was　a　few　grains　of　corn；　which
he　scratched　like　a　fowl　from　out　of　a　dust…heap。

One　day　he　was　scratching　as　usual　among　a　dust…heap　in　the
street；　hoping　to　find　something　for　breakfast；　when　his　eye　fell
upon　a　small　silver　coin；　called　an　eighth；　which　he　greedily
snatched　up。　　'Now　I　can　have　a　proper　meal；'　he　thought；　and
after　drinking　some　water　at　a　well　he　lay　down　and　slept　so　long
that　it　was　sunrise　before　he　woke　again。　　Then　he　jumped　up　and
returned　to　the　dust…heap。　　'For　who　knows；'　he　said　to　himself；
'whether　I　may　not　have　some　good　luck　again。'

As　he　was　walking　down　the　road；　he　saw　a　man　coming　towards　him；
carrying　a　cage　made　of　twigs。　　'Hi！　you　fellow！'　called　he；
'what　have　you　got　inside　there？'

'Gazelles；'　replied　the　man。

'Bring　them　here；　for　I　should　like　to　see　them。'

As　he　spoke；　some　men　who　were　standing　by　began　to　laugh；　saying
to　the　man　with　the　cage：　　'You　had　better　take　care　how　you
bargain　with　him；　for　he　has　nothing　at　all　except　what　he　picks
up　from　a　dust…heap；　and　if　he　can't　feed　himself；　will　he　be
able　to　feed　a　gazelle？'

But　the　man　with　the　cage　made　answer：　　'Since　I　started　from　my
home　in　the　country；　fifty　people　at　the　least　have　called　me　to
show　them　my　gazelles；　and　was　there　one　among　them　who　cared　to
buy？　　It　is　the　custom　for　a　trader　in　merchandise　to　be　summoned
hither　and　thither；　and　who　knows　where　one　may　find　a　buyer？'
And　he　took　up　his　cage　and　went　towards　the　scratcher　of
dust…heaps；　and　the　men　went　with　him。

'What　do　you　ask　for　your　gazelles？'　said　the　beggar。　　'Will　you
let　me　have　one　for　an　eighth？'

And　the　man　with　the　cage　took　out　a　gazelle；　and　held　it　out；
saying；　'Take　this　one；　master！'

And　the　beggar　took　it　and　carried　it　to　the　dust…heap；　where　he
scratched　carefully　till　he　found　a　few　grains　of　corn；　which　he
divided　with　his　gazelle。　　This　he　did　night　and　morning；　till
five　days　went　by。

Then；　as　he　slept；　the　gazelle　woke　him；　saying；　'Master。'

And　the　man　answered；　'How　is　it　that　I　see　a　wonder？'

'What　wonder？'　asked　the　gazelle。

'Why；　that　you；　a　gazelle；　should　be　able　to　speak；　for；　from　the
beginning；　my　father　and　mother　and　all　the　people　that　are　in
the　world　have　never　told　me　of　a　talking　gazelle。'

'Never　mind　that；'　said　the　gazelle；　'but　listen　to　what　I　say！　
First；　I　took　you　for　my　master。　　Second；　you　gave　for　me　all　you
had　in　the　world。　　I　cannot　run　away　from　you；　but　give　me；　I
pray　you；　leave　to　go　every　morning　and　seek　food　for　myself；　and
every　evening　I　will　come　back　to　you。　　What　you　find　in　the
dust…heaps　is　not　enough　for　both　of　us。'

'Go；　then；'　answered　the　master；　and　the　gazelle　went。

When　the　sun　had　set；　the　gazelle　came　back；　and　the　poor　man　was
very　glad；　and　they　lay　down　and　slept　side　by　side。

In　the　morning　it　said　to　him；　'I　am　going　away　to　feed。'

And　the　man　replied；　'Go；　my　son；'　but　he　felt　very　lonely
without　his　gazelle；　and　set　out　sooner　than　usual　for　the
dust…heap　where　he　generally　found　most　corn。　　And　glad　he　was
when　the　evening　came；　and　he　could　return　home。　　He　lay　on　the
grass　chewing　tobacco；　when　the　gazelle　trotted　up。

'Good　evening；　my　master；　how　have　you　fared　all　day？　　I　have
been　resting　in　the　shade　in　a　place　where　there　is　sweet　grass
when　I　am　hungry；　and　fresh　water　when　I　am　thirsty；　and　a　soft
breeze　to　fan　me　in　the　heat。　　It　is　far　away　in　the　forest；　and
no　one　knows　of　it　but　me；　and　to…morrow　I　shall　go　again。'

So　for　five　days　the　gazelle　set　off　at　daybreak　for　this　cool
spot；　but　on　the　fifth　day　it　came　to　a　place　where　the　grass　was
bitter；　and　it　did　not　like　it；　and　scratched；　hoping　to　tear
away　the　bad　blades。　　But；　instead；　it　saw　something　lying　in　the
earth；　which　turned　out　to　be　a　diamond；　very　large　and　bright。　
'Oh；　ho！'　said　the　gazelle　to　itself；　'perhaps　now　I　can　do
something　for　my　master　who　bought　me　with　all　the　money　he　had；
but　I　must　be　careful　or　they　will　say　he　has　stolen　it。　　I　had
better　take　it　myself　to　some　great　rich　man；　and　see　what　it
will　do　for　me。'

Directly　the　gazelle　had　come　to　this　conclusion；　it　picked　up
the　diamond　in　its　mouth；　and　went　on　and　on　and　on　through　the
forest；　but　found　no　place　where　a　rich　man　was　likely　to　dwell。　
For　two　more　days　it　ran；　from　dawn　to　dark；　till　at　last　early
one　morning　it　caught　sight　of　a　large　town；　which　gave　it　fresh
courage。

The　people　were　standing　about　the　streets　doing　their　marketing；
when　the　gazelle　bounded　past；　the　diamond　flashing　as　it　ran。　
They　called　after　it；　but　it　took　no　notice　till　it　reached　the
palace；　where　the　sultan　was　sitting；　enjoying　the　cool　air。　　And
the　gazelle　galloped　up　to　him；　and　laid　the　diamond　at　his　feet。

The　sultan　looked　first　at　the　diamond　and　next　at　the　gazelle；
then　he　ordered　his　attendants　to　bring　cushions　and　a　carpet；
that　the　gazelle　might　rest　itself　after　its　long　journey。　　And
he　likewise　ordered　milk　to　be　brought；　and　rice；　that　it　might
eat　and　drink　and　be　refreshed。

And　when　the　gazelle　was　rested；　the　sultan　said　to　it：　　'Give　me
the　news　you　have　come　with。'

And　the　gazelle　answered：　　'I　am　come　with　this　diamond；　which　is
a　pledge　from　my　master　the　Sultan　Darai。　　He　has　heard　you　have
a　daughter；　and　sends　you　this　small　token；　and　begs　you　will
give　her　to　him　to　wife。'

And　the　sultan　said：　　'I　am　content。　　The　wife　is　his　wife；　the
family　is　his　family；　the　slave　is　his　slave。　　Let　him　come　to　me
empty…handed；　I　am　content。'

When　the　sultan　had　ended；　the　gazelle　rose；　and　said：　　'Master；
farewell；　I　go　back　to　our　town；　and　in　eight　days；　or　it　may　be
in　eleven　days；　we　shall　arrive　as　your　guests。'

And　the　sultan　answered：　　'So　let　it　be。'

All　this　time　the　poor　man　far　away　had　been　mourning　and　weeping
for　his　gazelle；　which　he　thought　had　run　away　from　him　for　ever。

And　when　it　came　in　at　the　door　he　rushed　to　embrace　it　with　such
joy　that　he　would　not　allow　it　a　chance　to　speak。

'Be　still；　master；　and　don't　cry；'　said　the　gazelle　at　last；　'let
us　sleep　now；　and　in　the　morning；　when　I　go；　follow　me。'

With　the　first　ray　of　dawn　they　got　up　and　went　into　the　forest；
and　on　the　fifth　day；　as　they　were　resting　near　a　stream；　the
gazelle　gave　its　master　a　sound　beating；　and　then　bade　him　stay
where　he　was　till　it　returned。　　And　the　gazelle　ran　off；　and
about　ten　o'clock　it　came　near　the　sultan's　palace；　where　the
road　was　all　lined　with　soldiers　who　were　there　to　do　honour　to
Sultan　Darai。　　And　directly　they　caught　sight　of　the　gazelle　in
the　distance　one　of　the　soldiers　ran　on　and　said；　'Sultan　Darai
is　coming：　　I　have　seen　the　gazelle。'

Then　the　sultan　rose　up；　and　called　his　whole　court　to　follow
him；　and　went　out　to　meet　the　gazelle；　who；　bounding　up　to　him；
gave　him　greeting。　　The　sultan　answered　politely；　and　inquired
where　it　had　left　its　master；　whom　it　had　promised　to　bring　back。

'Alas！'　replied　the　gazelle；　'he　is　lying　in　the　forest；　for　on
our　way　here　we　were　met　by　robbers；　who；　after　beating　and
robbing　him；　took　away　all　his　clothes。　　And　he　is　now　hiding
under　a　bush；　lest　a　passing　stranger　might　see　him。'

The　sultan；　on　hearing　what　had　happened　to　his　future
son…in…law；　turned　his　horse　and　rode　to　the　palace；　and　bade　a
groom　to　harness　the　best　horse　in　the　stable　and　order　a　woman
slave　to　bring　a　bag　of　clothes；　such　as　a　man　might　want；　out　of
the　chest；　and　he　chose　out　a　tunic　and　a　turban　and　a　sash　for
the　waist；　and　fetched　himself　a　gold…hilted　sword；　and　a　dagger
and　a　pair　of　sandals；　and　a　stick　of　sweet…smelling　wood。

'Now；'　said　he　to　the　gazelle；　'take　these　things　with　the
soldiers　to　the　sultan；　that　he　may　be　able　to　come。'

And　the　gazelle　answered：　　'Can　I　take　those　soldiers　to　go　and
put　my　master　to　shame　as　he　lies　there　naked？　　I　am　enough　by
myself；　my　lord。'

'How　will　you　be　enough；'　asked　the　sultan；　'to　manage　this　horse
and　all　these　clothes？'

'Oh；　that　is　easily　done；'　replied　the　gazelle。　　'Fasten　the
horse　to　my　neck　and　tie　the　clothes　to　the　back　of　the　horse；
and　be　sure　they　are　fixed　firmly；　as　I　shall　go　faster　than　he
does。'

Everything　was　carried　out　as　the　gazelle　had　ordered；　and　when
all　was　ready　it　said　to　the　sultan：　　'Farewell；　my　lord；　I　am
going。'

'Farewell；　gazelle；'　answered　the　sultan；　'when　shall　we　see　you
again？'

'To…morrow　about　five；'　replied　the　gazelle；　and；　giving　a　tug　to
the　horse's　rein；　they　set　off　at　a　gallop。

The　sultan　watched　them　till　they　were　out　of　sight：　　then　he
said　to　his　attendants；　'That　gazelle　comes　from　gentle　hands；
from　the　house　of　a　sultan；　and　that　is　what　makes　it　so
different　from　other　gazelles。'　　And　in　the　eyes　of　the　sultan
the　gazelle　became　a　person　of　consequence。

Meanwhile　the　gazelle　ran　on　till　it　came　to　the　place　where　its
master　was　seated；　and　his　heart　laughed　when　he　saw　the　gazelle。

And　the　gazelle　said　to　him；　'Get　up；　my　master；　and　bathe　in　the
stream！'　and　when　the　man　had　bathed　it　said　again；　'Now　rub
yourself　well　with　earth；　and　rub　your　teeth　well　with　sand　to
make　them　bright　and　shining。'　　And　when　this　was　done　it　said；
'The　sun　has　gone　down　behind　the　hills；　it　is　time　for　us　to
go'：　　so　it　went　and　brought　the　clothes　from　the　back　of　the
horse；　and　the　man　put　them　on　and　was　well　pleased。

'Master！'　said　the　gazelle　when　the　man　was　ready；　'be　sure　that
where　we　are　going　you　keep　silence；　except　for　giving　greetings
and　asking　for　news。　　Leave　all　the　talking　to　me。　　I　have
provided　you　with　a　wife；　and　have　made　her　presents　of　clothes
and　turbans　and　rare　and　precious　things；　so　it　is　needless　for
you　to　speak。'

'Very　good；　I　will　be　silent；'　replied　the　man　as　he　mounted　the
horse。　　'You　have　given　all　this；　it　is　you　who　are　the　master；
and　I　who　am　the　slave；　and　I　will　obey　you　in　all　things。'

'So　they　went　their　way；　and　they　went　and　went　till　the　gazelle
saw　in　the　distance　the　palace　of　the　sultan。　　Then　it　said；
'Master；　that　is　the　house　we　are　going　to；　and　y