"Scott Volume II" - читать интересную книгу автора (Scotts Version)

While he was pondering over his good luck, he heard somebody knock at his door. Before he opened, he asked who it was, and knowing by the voice that it was a woman, he let her in. УMy son,Ф said she, УI have a favour to beg of you: the hour of prayer is come, let me perform my ablutions in your house, that I may be fit to say my prayers.Ф My brother looking at her, and seeing that she was well advanced in years, though he knew her not, granted her request, and sat down again still full of his new adventure. He put his gold in a long strait purse, proper to carry at his girdle. The old woman in the mean time said her prayers, and when she had done, came to my brother and bowed twice to the ground, so low, that she touched it with her forehead: then rising up, she wished him all happiness.

The old woman then bowed again, and thanked him for his civility. Being meanly clad, and very humble, he thought she asked alms; upon which he offered her two pieces of gold. The old woman stepped back in a sort of surprise, as if my brother had affronted her. УGood God!Ф said she, Уwhat is the meaning of this? Is it possible, sir, that you took me for one of those impudent beggars who push into people's houses to ask alms? Take back your money: thank heaven, I need it not. I belong to a young lady of this city, who is a perfect beauty, and very rich; she lets me want for nothing.Ф

My brother was not cunning enough to perceive the craft of the old woman, who only refused the two pieces of gold, that she might catch more. He asked her, if she could not procure him the honour of seeing that lady. УWith all my heart,Ф she replied; Уshe will be very glad to marry you, and to put you in possession of her fortune, by making you master of her person. Take up your money, and follow me.Ф My brother, transported with his good luck in finding so great a sum of money, and almost at the same time a beautiful and rich wife, shut his eyes to all other considerations; so that he took his five hundred pieces of gold, and followed the old woman. She walked on, and he followed at a distance, to the gate of a great house, where she knocked. He came up just as a young Greek slave opened the gate. The old woman made him enter first, crossed a well-paved court, and introduced him into a hall, the furniture of which confirmed him in the good opinion he had conceived of the mistress of the house. While the old woman went to acquaint the lady, he sat down, and the weather being hot, put off his turban, and laid it by him. He speedily saw the young lady enter: her beauty and rich apparel perfectly surprised him; he arose as soon as he saw her. The lady, with a smiling countenance, prayed him to sit down again, and placed herself by him. She told him, she was very glad to see him; and after having spoken some engaging words, said, УWe do not sit here at our ease. Come, give me your hand.Ф At these words she presented him hers, and conducted him into an inner chamber, where she conversed with him for some time: she then left him, saying that she would be with him in a moment. He waited for her; but instead of the lady came in a great black slave with a cimeter in his hand, and looking upon my brother with a terrible aspect, said to him fiercely, УWhat have you to do here?Ф Alnaschar was so frightened, that he had no power to answer. The black stripped him, carried off his gold, and gave him several flesh wounds with his cimeter. My unhappy brother fell to the ground, where he lay without motion, though he had still the use of his senses. The black thinking him to be dead, asked for salt: the Greek slave brought him a basin full: they rubbed my brother's wounds with it, but he had so much command of himself, notwithstanding the intolerable pain it put him to, that he lay still without giving any sign of life. The black and the Greek slave having retired, the old woman, who had enticed my brother into the snare, came and dragged him by the feet to a trapdoor, which she opened, and threw him into a place under ground, among the bodies of several other people who had been murdered. He perceived this as soon as he came to himself, for the violence of the fall had taken away his senses. The salt rubbed into his wounds preserved his life, and he recovered strength by degrees, so as to be able to walk. After two days he opened the trap-door in the night, and finding in the court a place proper to hide himself in, continued there till break of day, when he saw the cursed old woman open the street gate, and go out to seek another victim. He stayed in the place some time after she was gone, that she might not see him, and then came to me for shelter, when he told me of his adventures.

In a month's time he was perfectly cured of his wounds by medicines that I gave him, and resolved to avenge himself of the old woman, who had put such a barbarous cheat upon him. To this end he took a bag, large enough to contain five hundred pieces of gold, and filled it with pieces of glass.


My brother fastened the bag of glass about him, disguised himself like an old woman, and took a cimeter under his gown. One morning he met the old woman walking through the town to seek her prey; he went up to her, and counterfeiting a woman's voice, said, УCannot you lend me a pair of scales? I am newly come from Persia, have brought five hundred pieces of gold with me, and would know if they are weight.Ф УGood woman,Ф answered the old hag, Уyou could not have applied to a fitter person: follow me, I will conduct you to my son, who changes money, and will weigh them himself to save you the trouble. Let us make haste, for fear he should go to his shop.Ф My brother followed her to the house where she carried him at first, and the Greek slave opened the door.

The old woman took my brother to the hall where she desired him to wait till she called her son. The pretended son came, and proved to be the villainous black slave. УCome, old woman,Ф said he to my brother, Уrise and follow me:Ф having spoken thus, he went before to conduct him to the place where he designed to murder him. Alnaschar got up, followed him, and drawing his cimeter, gave him such a dexterous blow behind on the neck, that he cut off his head, which he took in one hand, and dragging the corpse with the other, threw them both into the place under ground before-mentioned. The Greek slave, who was accustomed to the trade, came presently with a basin of salt; but when she saw Alnaschar with his cimeter in his hand, and without his veil, she laid down the basin, and fled. But my brother overtaking her, cut off her head also. The wicked old woman came running at the noise, and my brother seizing her, said to her, УTreacherous wretch, do not you know me?Ф УAlas, Sir!Ф answered she trembling, Уwho are you? I do not remember that I ever saw you.Ф УI am,Ф replied he, Уthe person to whose house you came the other day to wash and say your prayers. Hypocritical hag, do not you remember?Ф Then she fell on her knees to beg his pardon, but he cut her in four pieces.

There remained only the lady, who knew nothing of what had passed: he sought her out, and found her in a chamber, where she was ready to sink when she saw him: she begged her life, which he generously granted. УMadam,Ф said he, Уhow could you live with such wicked people, as I have so justly revenged myself upon?Ф УI was,Ф she answered, Уwife to an honest merchant; and the old woman, whose wickedness I did not then know, used sometimes to come to see me; 'Madam,' said she to me one day, 'we have a wedding at our house, which you will be pleased to see, if you will give us the honour of your company:' I was persuaded by her, put on my best apparel, and took with me a hundred pieces of gold. I followed her; she brought me to this house, where the black has since kept me by force, and I have been three years here to my great sorrow.Ф УBy the trade which that cursed black followed,Ф replied my brother, Уhe must have gathered together a vast deal of riches.Ф УThere is so much,Ф said she Уthat you will be made for ever, if you can carry them off: follow me, and you shall see them.Ф Alnaschar followed her to a chamber, where she shewed him several coffers full of gold, which he beheld with admiration. УGo,Ф said she, Уand fetch people to carry it all off.Ф My brother went out, got ten men together, and brought them with him, but was much surprised to find the gate open, the lady and the coffers gone, for she being more diligent than he, had conveyed them all off and disappeared. However, being resolved not to return empty-handed, he carried off all the furniture of the house, which was a great deal more than enough to make up the five hundred pieces of gold he had been robbed of; but when he went out of the house, he forgot to shut the gate. The neighbours, who saw my brother and the porters come and go, went and acquainted the magistrate, for they looked upon my brother's conduct as suspicious. Alnaschar slept well enough all night, but the next morning, when he came out of his house, twenty of the magistrate's men seized him. УCome along with us,Ф said they, Уour master would speak with you.Ф My brother prayed them to have patience for a moment, and offered them a sum of money to let him escape; but instead of listening to him, they bound him, and forced him to go with them. They met in the street an old acquaintance of my brother's, who stopped them awhile, asked them why they had seized my brother, offered them a considerable sum to let him escape, and tell the magistrate they could not find him, but in vain.

When the officers brought him before the magistrate, he asked him where he had the goods which he had carried home the preceding evening? УSir,Ф replied Alnaschar, УI am ready to tell you all the truth; but allow me first to have recourse to your clemency, and to beg your promise, that I shall not be punished.Ф УI give it you,Ф said the magistrate. My brother then told him the whole story without disguise, from the period the old woman came into his house to say her prayers, to the time the lady made her escape, after he had killed the black, the Greek slave, and the old woman: and as for what he had carried to his house, he prayed the judge to leave him part of it, for the five hundred pieces of gold of which he had been robbed.

The judge, without promising any thing, sent his officers to bring off the whole, and having put the goods into his own warehouse, commanded my brother to quit the town immediately, and never to return, for he was afraid, if he had stayed in the city, he would have found some way to represent this injustice to the caliph. In the mean time, Alnaschar obeyed without murmuring, and left that town to go to another. By the way, he met with highwaymen, who stripped him naked; and when the ill news was brought to me, I carried him a suit, and brought him secretly into the town, where I took the like care of him as I did of his other brothers.




The Story of the Barber's Sixth Brother.



I have now only to relate the story of my sixth brother, called Schacabac, with the hare lips. At first he was industrious enough to improve the hundred dirhems of silver which fell to his share, and went on very well; but a reverse of fortune brought him to beg his bread, which he did with a great deal of dexterity. He studied chiefly to get into great men's houses by means of their servants and officers, that he might have access to their masters, and obtain their charity. One day as he passed by a magnificent house, whose high gate shewed a very spacious court, where there was a multitude of servants, he went to one of them, and asked him to whom that house belonged? УGood man,Ф replied the servant, У whence do you come that you ask me such a question? Does not all that you behold point out to you that it is the palace of a Barmecide?Ф УMy brother, who very well knew the liberality and generosity of the Barmecides, addressed himself to one of his porters (for he had more than one), and prayed him to give him alms. УGo in,Ф said he, Уnobody hinders you, and address yourself to the master of the house; he will send you back satisfied.Ф

My brother, who expected no such civility, thanked the porters, and with their permission entered the palace, which was so large, that it took him a considerable time to reach the Barmecide's. apartment; at last he came to an arcade square building of an excellent architecture, and entered by parterres of flowers intersected by walks of several colours, extremely pleasant to the eye: the lower apartments round this square were most of them open, and were shut only with great curtains to keep out the sun, which were opened again when the heat was over to let in the fresh air.

Such an agreeable place would have struck my brother with admiration, even if his mind had been more at ease than it was. He went on till he came into a hall richly furnished and adorned with painting of gold and azure foliage, where he saw a venerable man with a long white beard, sitting at the upper end on a sofa, whence he concluded him to be the master of the house; and in fact it was the Barmecide himself, who said to my brother in a very civil manner, that he was welcome; and asked him what he wanted? УMy lord,Ф answered my brother, in a begging tone, УI am a poor man who stands in need of the help of such rich and generous persons as yourself.Ф He could not have addressed himself to a fitter person than this lord, who had a thousand good qualities.

The Barmecide seemed to be astonished at my brother's answer, and putting both his hands to his stomach, as if he would rend his clothes for grief, УIs it possible,Ф cried he, Уthat I am at Bagdad, and that such a man as you is so poor as you say? this is what must never be.Ф My brother, fancying that he was going to give him some singular mark of his bounty, blessed him a thousand times, and wished him all happiness. УIt shall not be said,Ф replied the Barmecide, Уthat I will abandon you, nor will I have you leave me.Ф УSir,Ф replied my brother, УI swear to you I have not eaten one bit to-day.Ф УIs it true,Ф demanded the Barmecide, Уthat you are fasting till now? Alas, poor man! he is ready to die for hunger. Ho, boy,Ф cried he, with a loud voice, Уbring a basin and water presently, that we may wash our hands.Ф Though no boy appeared, and my brother saw neither water nor basin, the Barmecide fell to rubbing his hands as if one had poured water upon them, and bade my brother come and wash with him. Schacabac judged by this, that the Barmecide lord loved to be merry, and he himself understanding raillery, and knowing that the poor must be complaisant to the rich, if they would have any thing from them, came forward and did as he was required.

УCome on,Ф said the Barmecide, Уbring us something to eat, and do not let us wait.Ф When he had spoken, though nothing appeared, he began to cut as if something had been brought him upon a plate, and putting his hand to his mouth began to chew, and said to my brother, УCome, friend, eat as freely as if you were at home; come, eat; you said you were like to die of hunger, but you eat as if you had no appetite.Ф УPardon me, my lord,Ф said Schacabac, who perfectly imitated what he did, Уyou see I lose no time, and that I play my part well enough.Ф УHow like you this bread,Ф said the Barmecide; Уdo not you find it very good?Ф УO! my lord,Ф replied my brother, who saw neither bread nor meat, УI have never eaten anything so white and so fine.Ф УEat your belly-full,Ф said the Barmecide; УI assure you the woman who bakes me this good bread cost me five hundred pieces of gold to purchase her.Ф

The Barmecide, after having boasted so much of his bread, which my brother ate only in idea, cried, УBoy, bring us another dish:Ф and though no boy appeared, УCome, my good friend,Ф continued he, Уtaste this new dish; and tell me if ever you ate better mutton and barley-broth than this.Ф УIt is admirably good,Ф replied my brother, Уand therefore you see I eat heartily.Ф УYou oblige me highly,Ф resumed the Barmecide; УI conjure you then, by the satisfaction I have to see you eat so heartily, that you eat all up, since you like it so well.Ф A little while after he called for a goose and sweet sauce, made up of vinegar, honey, dry raisins, grey peas, and dry figs, which were brought just in the same manner as the others had. УThe goose is very fat,Ф said the Barmecide, Уeat only a leg and a wing; we must save our stomachs, for we have abundance of other dishes to come.Ф He actually called for several others, of which my brother, who was ready to die of hunger, pretended to eat; but what he boasted of more than all the rest was a lamb fed with pistachio nuts, which he ordered to be brought up in the same manner. УHere is a dish,Ф said the Barmecide Уthat you will see at nobody's table but my own; I would have you eat your belly-full of it.Ф Having spoken thus, he stretched out his hand as if he had had a piece of lamb in it, and putting it to my brother's mouth, УThere,Ф said he, Уswallow that, and you will judge whether I had not reason to boast of this dish.Ф My brother thrust out his head, opened his mouth, and made as if he took the piece of lamb, and eat it with extreme pleasure. УI knew you would like it,Ф said the Barmecide. У There is nothing in the world finer,Ф replied my brother; Уyour table is most delicious.Ф УCome, bring the ragout; I fancy you will like that as well as you did the lamb: Well, how do you relish it?Ф УO! it is wonderful,Ф replied Schacabac; Уfor here we taste all at once, amber, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, pepper, and the most odoriferous herbs, and all these delicacies are so well mixed, that one does not prevent our tasting the other.Ф УHow pleasant! Honour this ragout,Ф said the Barmecide, Уby eating heartily of it. Ho, boy, bring us another ragout.Ф УNo, my lord, if it please you,Ф replied my brother, Уfor indeed I can eat no more.Ф

УCome, take away then,Ф said the Barmecide, Уand bring the fruit.Ф He stayed a moment as it were to give time for his servants to carry away; after which, he addressed my brother, УTaste these almonds, they are good and fresh gathered.Ф Both of them made as if they had peeled the almonds, and eaten them; after this, the Barmecide invited my brother to eat something else. УLook,Ф said he, Уthere are all sorts of fruits, cakes, dry sweetmeats, and conserves, take what you like;Ф then stretching out his hand, as if he had reached my brother something, УLook,Ф he continued, Уthere is a lozenge, very good for digestion.Ф Schacabac made as if he ate it, and said, УMy lord, there is no want of musk here.Ф УThese lozenges,Ф replied the Barmecide, Уare made at my own house, where nothing is wanting to make every article good.Ф He still bade my brother eat, and said to him, УMethinks you do not eat as if you had been so hungry as you complained you were when you came in.Ф УMy lord,Ф replied Schacabac, whose jaws ached with moving and having nothing to eat, У I assure you I am so full that I cannot eat one bit more.Ф

УWell, then, friend,Ф resumed the Barmecide, Уwe must drink now, after we have eaten so well.Ф УYou may drink wine, my lord,Ф replied my brother, Уbut I will drink none if you please, because I am forbidden.Ф УYou are too scrupulous,Ф rejoined the Barmecide; Уdo as I do.Ф УI will drink then out of complaisance,Ф said Schacabac, Уfor I see you will have nothing wanting to make your treat complete; but since I am not accustomed to drink wine, I am afraid I shall commit some error in point of good breeding, and contrary to the respect that is due to you; therefore I pray you, once more, to excuse me from drinking any wine; I will be content with water.Ф УNo, no,Ф said the Barmecide, Уyou shall drink wine,Ф and at the same time he commanded some to be brought, in the same manner as the meat and fruit had been served before. He made as if he poured out wine, and drank first himself, and then pouring out for my brother, presented him the glass, saying, УDrink my health, and let us know if you think this wine good.Ф My brother made as if he took the glass, and looked as if the colour was good, and put it to his nose to try the flavour: he then made a low salute to the Barmecide, to signify that he took the liberty to drink his health, and lastly he appeared to drink with all the signs of a man that drinks with pleasure: УMy lord,Ф said he, Уthis is very excellent wine, but I think it is not strong enough.Ф УIf you would have stronger,Ф answered the Barmecide, Уyou need only speak, for I have several sorts in my cellar. Try how you like this.Ф Upon which he made as if he poured out another glass for himself, and one for my brother; and did this so often, that Schacabac, feigning to be intoxicated with the wine, and acting a drunken man, lifted up his hand, and gave the Barmecide such a box on the ear as made him fall down. He was going to give him another blow, but the Barmecide holding up his hand to ward it off, cried, УAre you mad?Ф Then my brother, making as if he had come to himself again, said, УMy lord, you have been so good as to admit your slave into your house, and give him a treat; you should have been satisfied with making me eat, and not have obliged me to drink wine; for I told you beforehand, that it might occasion me to fail in my respect for you. I am very sorry for it, and beg you a thousand pardons.Ф

Scarcely had he finished these words, when the Barmecide, instead of being in a passion, fell a laughing with all his might. УI have been long,Ф said he, Уseeking a man of your character.Ф

The Barmecide caressed Schacabac mightily, and told him, УI not only forgive the blow you have given me, but I desire henceforward we should be friends, and that you take my house for your home: you have had the complaisance to accommodate yourself to my humour, and the patience to keep the jest up to the last; we will now eat in good earnest.Ф When he had finished these words, he clapped his hands, and commanded his servants, who then appeared, to cover the table; which was speedily done, and my brother was treated with all those dishes in reality, which he ate of before in fancy. At last they cleared the table, and brought in the wine, and at the same time a number of handsome slaves, richly appareled, came and sung some agreeable airs to their musical instruments. In a word, Schacabac had all the reason in the world to be satisfied with the Barmecide's civility and bounty; for he treated him as his familiar friend, and ordered him a suit from his wardrobe.

The Barmecide found my brother to be a man of so much wit and understanding, that in a few days after he entrusted him with the care of his household and all his affairs. My brother acquitted himself very well in that employment for twenty years; at the end of which the generous Barmecide died, and leaving no heirs, all his property was confiscated to the use of the prince; and my brother lost all he had acquired. Being reduced to his first condition, he joined a caravan of pilgrims going to Mecca, designing to accomplish that pilgrimage by their charity; but unfortunately the caravan was attacked and plundered by a number of Bedouins, superior to that of the pilgrims. My brother was then taken as a slave by one of the Bedouins, who put him under the bastinado for several days, to oblige him to ransom himself. Schacabac protested that it was all in vain. УI am your slave,Ф said he, Уyou may dispose of me as you please; but I declare to you that I am extremely poor, and not able to redeem myself.Ф In a word, my brother discovered to him all his misfortunes, and endeavoured to soften him with tears; but the Bedouin was not to be moved, and being vexed to find himself disappointed of a considerable sum of which he reckoned himself sure, he took his knife and slit my brother's lips. to avenge himself by this inhumanity for the loss that he thought he had sustained.

The Bedouin had a handsome wife, and frequently when he went on his excursions left my brother alone with her. At such times she used all her endeavours to comfort my brother under the rigour of his slavery. She gave him tokens enough that she loved him, but he durst not return her passion, for fear he should repent; and therefore avoided being alone with her, as much as she sought the opportunity to be alone with him. She was so much in the habit of caressing and playing with the miserable Schacabac, whenever she saw him, that one day she happened to act in the same manner, in the presence of her husband. My brother, without taking notice that he observed them (so his sins would have it), played likewise with her. The Bedouin, immediately supposing that they lived together in a criminal manner, fell upon my brother in a rage, and after he had mutilated him in a barbarous manner, carried him on a camel to the top of a desert mountain, where he left him. The mountain was on the road to Bagdad, so that the passengers who saw him there informed me where he was. I went thither speedily, and found unfortunate Schacabac in a deplorable condition: I gave him what help he stood in need of, and brought him back to the city.