《石榴之屋》第41章

anywhere　of　the　beggar…woman　who　was　his　mother；　though　for　the
space　of　three　years　he　wandered　over　the　world；　and　often　seemed
to　see　her　on　the　road　in　front　of　him；　and　would　call　to　her；　and
run　after　her　till　the　sharp　flints　made　his　feet　to　bleed。 but
overtake　her　he　could　not；　and　those　who　dwelt　by　the　way　did　ever
deny　that　they　had　seen　her；　or　any　like　to　her；　and　they　made
sport　of　his　sorrow。
for　the　space　of　three　years　he　wandered　over　the　world；　and　in　the
world　there　was　neither　love　nor　loving…kindness　nor　charity　for
him；　but　it　was　even　such　a　world　as　he　had　made　for　himself　in　the
days　of　his　great　pride。
and　one　evening　he　came　to　the　gate　of　a　strong…walled　city　that
stood　by　a　river；　and；　weary　and　footsore　though　he　was；　he　made　to
enter　in。 but　the　soldiers　who　stood　on　guard　dropped　their
halberts　across　the　entrance；　and　said　roughly　to　him；　what　is　thy
business　in　the　city？
i　am　seeking　for　my　mother；　he　answered；　and　i　pray　ye　to　suffer
me　to　pass；　for　it　may　be　that　she　is　in　this　city。
but　they　mocked　at　him；　and　one　of　them　wagged　a　black　beard；　and
set　down　his　shield　and　cried；　of　a　truth；　thy　mother　will　not　be
merry　when　she　sees　thee；　for　thou　art　more　ill…favoured　than　the
toad　of　the　marsh；　or　the　adder　that　crawls　in　the　fen。 get　thee
gone。 get　thee　gone。 thy　mother　dwells　not　in　this　city。
and　another；　who　held　a　yellow　banner　in　his　hand；　said　to　him；
who　is　thy　mother；　and　wherefore　art　thou　seeking　for　her？
and　he　answered；　my　mother　is　a　beggar　even　as　i　am；　and　i　have
treated　her　evilly；　and　i　pray　ye　to　suffer　me　to　pass　that　she　may
give　me　her　forgiveness；　if　it　be　that　she　tarrieth　in　this　city。
but　they　would　not；　and　pricked　him　with　their　spears。
and；　as　he　turned　away　weeping；　one　whose　armour　was　inlaid　with
gilt　flowers；　and　on　whose　helmet　couched　a　lion　that　had　wings；
came　up　and　made　inquiry　of　the　soldiers　who　it　was　who　had　sought
entrance。 and　they　said　to　him；　it　is　a　beggar　and　the　child　of　a
beggar；　and　we　have　driven　him　away。
nay；　he　cried；　laughing；　but　we　will　sell　the　foul　thing　for　a
slave；　and　his　price　shall　be　the　price　of　a　bowl　of　sweet　wine。
and　an　old　and　evil…visaged　man　who　was　passing　by　called　out；　and
said；　i　will　buy　him　for　that　price；　and；　when　he　had　paid　the
price；　he　took　the　star…child　by　the　hand　and　led　him　into　the
city。
and　after　that　they　had　gone　through　many　streets　they　came　to　a
little　door　that　was　set　in　a　wall　that　was　covered　with　a
pomegranate　tree。 and　the　old　man　touched　the　door　with　a　ring　of
graved　jasper　and　it　opened；　and　they　went　down　five　steps　of　brass
into　a　garden　filled　with　black　poppies　and　green　jars　of　burnt
clay。 and　the　old　man　took　then　from　his　turban　a　scarf　of　figured
silk；　and　bound　with　it　the　eyes　of　the　star…child；　and　drave　him
in　front　of　him。 and　when　the　scarf　was　taken　off　his　eyes；　the
star…child　found　himself　in　a　dungeon；　that　was　lit　by　a　lantern　of
horn。
and　the　old　man　set　before　him　some　mouldy　bread　on　a　trencher　and
said；　eat；　and　some　brackish　water　in　a　cup　and　said；　drink；
and　when　he　had　eaten　and　drunk；　the　old　man　went　out；　locking　the
door　behind　him　and　fastening　it　with　an　iron　chain。
and　on　the　morrow　the　old　man；　who　was　indeed　the　subtlest　of　the
magicians　of　libya　and　had　learned　his　art　from　one　who　dwelt　in
the　tombs　of　the　nile；　came　in　to　him　and　frowned　at　him；　and　said；
in　a　wood　that　is　nigh　to　the　gate　of　this　city　of　giaours　there
are　three　pieces　of　gold。 one　is　of　white　gold；　and　another　is　of
yellow　gold；　and　the　gold　of　the　third　one　is　red。 to…day　thou
shalt　bring　me　the　piece　of　white　gold；　and　if　thou　bringest　it　not
back；　i　will　beat　thee　with　a　hundred　stripes。 get　thee　away
quickly；　and　at　sunset　i　will　be　waiting　for　thee　at　the　door　of
the　garden。 see　that　thou　bringest　the　white　gold；　or　it　shall　go
ill　with　thee；　for　thou　art　my　slave；　and　i　have　bought　thee　for
the　price　of　a　bowl　of　sweet　wine。 and　he　bound　the　eyes　of　the
star…child　with　the　scarf　of　figured　silk；　and　led　him　through　the
house；　and　through　the　garden　of　poppies；　and　up　the　five　steps　of
brass。 and　having　opened　the　little　door　with　his　ring　he　set　him
in　the　street。
and　the　star…child　went　out　of　the　gate　of　the　city；　and　came　to
the　wood　of　which　the　magician　had　spoken　to　him。
now　this　wood　was　very　fair　to　look　at　from　without；　and　seemed
full　of　singing　birds　and　of　sweet…scented　flowers；　and　the　star…
child　entered　it　gladly。 yet　did　its　beauty　profit　him　little；　for
wherever　he　went　harsh　briars　and　thorns　shot　up　from　the　ground
and　enpassed　him；　and　evil　nettles　stung　him；　and　the　thistle
pierced　him　with　her　daggers；　so　that　he　was　in　sore　distress。 nor
could　he　anywhere　find　the　piece　of　white　gold　of　which　the
magician　had　spoken；　though　he　sought　for　it　from　morn　to　noon；　and
from　noon　to　sunset。 and　at　sunset　he　set　his　face　towards　home；
weeping　bitterly；　for　he　knew　what　fate　was　in　store　for　him。
but　when　he　had　reached　the　outskirts　of　the　wood；　he　heard　from　a
thicket　a　cry　as　of　some　one　in　pain。 and　forgetting　his　own
sorrow　he　ran　back　to　the　place；　and　saw　there　a　little　hare　caught
in　a　trap　that　some　hunter　had　set　for　it。
and　the　star…child　had　pity　on　it；　and　released　it；　and　said　to　it；
i　am　myself　but　a　slave；　yet　may　i　give　thee　thy　freedom。
and　the　hare　answered　him；　and　said： surely　thou　hast　given　me
freedom；　and　what　shall　i　give　thee　in　return？
and　the　star…child　said　to　it；　i　am　seeking　for　a　piece　of　white
gold；　nor　can　i　anywhere　find　it；　and　if　i　bring　it　not　to　my
master　he　will　beat　me。
e　thou　with　me；　said　the　hare；　and　i　will　lead　thee　to　it；
for　i　know　where　it　is　hidden；　and　for　what　purpose。
so　the　star…child　went　with　the　hare；　and　lo！　in　the　cleft　of　a
great　oak…tree　he　saw　the　piece　of　white　gold　that　he　was　seeking。
and　he　was　filled　with　joy；　and　seized　it；　and　said　to　the　hare；
the　service　that　i　did　to　thee　thou