《石榴之屋》第33章

bidding。
so　they　made　haste；　and　all　that　night　they　journeyed　beneath　the
moon；　and　all　the　next　day　they　journeyed　beneath　the　sun；　and　on
the　evening　of　the　day　they　came　to　a　city。
and　the　young　fisherman　said　to　his　soul；　is　this　the　city　in
which　she　dances　of　whom　thou　didst　speak　to　me？
and　his　soul　answered　him；　it　is　not　this　city；　but　another。
nevertheless　let　us　enter　in。 so　they　entered　in　and　passed
through　the　streets；　and　as　they　passed　through　the　street　of　the
jewellers　the　young　fisherman　saw　a　fair　silver　cup　set　forth　in　a
booth。 and　his　soul　said　to　him；　take　that　silver　cup　and　hide
it。
so　he　took　the　cup　and　hid　it　in　the　fold　of　his　tunic；　and　they
went　hurriedly　out　of　the　city。
and　after　that　they　had　gone　a　league　from　the　city；　the　young
fisherman　frowned；　and　flung　the　cup　away；　and　said　to　his　soul；
why　didst　thou　tell　me　to　take　this　cup　and　hide　it；　for　it　was　an
evil　thing　to　do？
but　his　soul　answered　him；　be　at　peace；　be　at　peace。
and　on　the　evening　of　the　second　day　they　came　to　a　city；　and　the
young　fisherman　said　to　his　soul；　is　this　the　city　in　which　she
dances　of　whom　thou　didst　speak　to　me？
and　his　soul　answered　him；　it　is　not　this　city；　but　another。
nevertheless　let　us　enter　in。 so　they　entered　in　and　passed
through　the　streets；　and　as　they　passed　through　the　street　of　the
sellers　of　sandals；　the　young　fisherman　saw　a　child　standing　by　a
jar　of　water。 and　his　soul　said　to　him；　smite　that　child。 so　he
smote　the　child　till　it　wept；　and　when　he　had　done　this　they　went
hurriedly　out　of　the　city。
and　after　that　they　had　gone　a　league　from　the　city　the　young
fisherman　grew　wroth；　and　said　to　his　soul；　why　didst　thou　tell　me
to　smite　the　child；　for　it　was　an　evil　thing　to　do？
but　his　soul　answered　him；　be　at　peace；　be　at　peace。
and　on　the　evening　of　the　third　day　they　came　to　a　city；　and　the
young　fisherman　said　to　his　soul；　is　this　the　city　in　which　she
dances　of　whom　thou　didst　speak　to　me？
and　his　soul　answered　him；　it　may　be　that　it　is　in　this　city；
therefore　let　us　enter　in。
so　they　entered　in　and　passed　through　the　streets；　but　nowhere
could　the　young　fisherman　find　the　river　or　the　inn　that　stood　by
its　side。 and　the　people　of　the　city　looked　curiously　at　him；　and
he　grew　afraid　and　said　to　his　soul；　let　us　go　hence；　for　she　who
dances　with　white　feet　is　not　here。
but　his　soul　answered；　nay；　but　let　us　tarry；　for　the　night　is
dark　and　there　will　be　robbers　on　the　way。
so　he　sat　him　down　in　the　market…place　and　rested；　and　after　a　time
there　went　by　a　hooded　merchant　who　had　a　cloak　of　cloth　of
tartary；　and　bare　a　lantern　of　pierced　horn　at　the　end　of　a　jointed
reed。 and　the　merchant　said　to　him；　why　dost　thou　sit　in　the
market…place；　seeing　that　the　booths　are　closed　and　the　bales
corded？
and　the　young　fisherman　answered　him；　i　can　find　no　inn　in　this
city；　nor　have　i　any　kinsman　who　might　give　me　shelter。
are　we　not　all　kinsmen？　said　the　merchant。 and　did　not　one　god
make　us？ therefore　e　with　me；　for　i　have　a　guest…chamber。
so　the　young　fisherman　rose　up　and　followed　the　merchant　to　his
house。 and　when　he　had　passed　through　a　garden　of　pomegranates　and
entered　into　the　house；　the　merchant　brought　him　rose…water　in　a
copper　dish　that　he　might　wash　his　hands；　and　ripe　melons　that　he
might　quench　his　thirst；　and　set　a　bowl　of　rice　and　a　piece　of
roasted　kid　before　him。
and　after　that　he　had　finished；　the　merchant　led　him　to　the　guest…
chamber；　and　bade　him　sleep　and　be　at　rest。 and　the　young
fisherman　gave　him　thanks；　and　kissed　the　ring　that　was　on　his
hand；　and　flung　himself　down　on　the　carpets　of　dyed　goats…hair。
and　when　he　had　covered　himself　with　a　covering　of　black　lambs…
wool　he　fell　asleep。
and　three　hours　before　dawn；　and　while　it　was　still　night；　his　soul
waked　him　and　said　to　him；　rise　up　and　go　to　the　room　of　the
merchant；　even　to　the　room　in　which　he　sleepeth；　and　slay　him；　and
take　from　him　his　gold；　for　we　have　need　of　it。
and　the　young　fisherman　rose　up　and　crept　towards　the　room　of　the
merchant；　and　over　the　feet　of　the　merchant　there　was　lying　a
curved　sword；　and　the　tray　by　the　side　of　the　merchant　held　nine
purses　of　gold。 and　he　reached　out　his　hand　and　touched　the　sword；
and　when　he　touched　it　the　merchant　started　and　awoke；　and　leaping
up　seized　himself　the　sword　and　cried　to　the　young　fisherman；　dost
thou　return　evil　for　good；　and　pay　with　the　shedding　of　blood　for
the　kindness　that　i　have　shown　thee？
and　his　soul　said　to　the　young　fisherman；　strike　him；　and　he
struck　him　so　that　he　swooned　and　he　seized　then　the　nine　purses　of
gold；　and　fled　hastily　through　the　garden　of　pomegranates；　and　set
his　face　to　the　star　that　is　the　star　of　morning。
and　when　they　had　gone　a　league　from　the　city；　the　young　fisherman
beat　his　breast；　and　said　to　his　soul；　why　didst　thou　bid　me　slay
the　merchant　and　take　his　gold？ surely　thou　art　evil。
but　his　soul　answered　him；　be　at　peace；　be　at　peace。
nay；　cried　the　young　fisherman；　i　may　not　be　at　peace；　for　all
that　thou　hast　made　me　to　do　i　hate。 thee　also　i　hate；　and　i　bid
thee　tell　me　wherefore　thou　hast　wrought　with　me　in　this　wise。
and　his　soul　answered　him；　when　thou　didst　send　me　forth　into　the
world　thou　gavest　me　no　heart；　so　i　learned　to　do　all　these　things
and　love　them。
what　sayest　thou？　murmured　the　young　fisherman。
thou　knowest；　answered　his　soul；　thou　knowest　it　well。 hast
thou　forgotten　that　thou　gavest　me　no　heart？ i　trow　not。 and　so
trouble　not　thyself　nor　me；　but　be　at　peace；　for　there　is　no　pain
that　thou　shalt　not　give　away；　nor　any　pleasure　that　thou　shalt　not
receive。
and　when　the　young　fisherman　heard　these　words　he　trembled　and　said
to　his　soul；　nay；　but　thou　art　evil；　and　hast　made　me　forget　my
love；　and　hast　tempted　me　with　temptations；　and　hast　set　my　feet　in
the　ways　of　sin。
and　his　soul　answered　him；　thou　hast　not　forgotten　that　when　thou
didst　send　me　forth　into　the　world　thou　ga