天方夜谭英文故事：The Merchant and The Genie

Once upon a time there was a merchant who possessed¹ great wealth in land and in merchandise. He had to take journeys to arrange his affairs. One day he mounted his horse, taking with him a small wallet containing a few biscuits and dates as he had to pass through the desert. Having finished his business, he set out on his return journey. On the fourth day of his journey, he turned out of his road to rest under some trees. He found at the foot of a large walnut-tree a fountain of clear and running water. He dismounted, fastened his horse to a branch of a tree and sat by the fountain. He ate some dates and biscuits. When he had finished this frugal² meal, he washed his face and hands in the fountain. He heard a thunderous noise. 

 

There appeared before him an enormous genie³, white with rage, coming towards him, with a curved sword in his hand. 

 

“Arise." the Genie cried in a terrible voice, “and let me kill you as you have killed my son!" 

 

As he uttered these words he gave a frightful⁴ yell. The merchant was as much terrified at the hideous⁵ face of the monster and answered him tremblingly. "Alas⁶! good sir. I know not you, nor your son" 

 

“I shall kill you." repeated the Genie, 'as you have killed my son." 

 

“But," said the merchant…"How can I have killed your son? I do not know him and I have never even seen him." 

 

‘When you arrived here, did you not sit down on the ground' asked the Genie, "and did you not take some dates from your wallet and whilst eating them did you not throw the seeds about?" 

 

‘Yes." said the merchant. "I certainly did." 

 

“Then." said the Genie. "The seeds you flung away struck my son in the eye and killed him So I shall kill you." 

 

“Ah. Sir, forgive me. I had no intention to kill your son." cried the merchant. 

 

“I will have no mercy on you.’ Answered the Genie. 

 

He seized the merchant by the arm, threw on the ground and lifted his saber to cut off his head. 

 

The merchant, pleaded to the Genie to allow him to see his wife and children and promised to return to the Genie. 

 

When the merchant saw that the Genie was determined⁷ to cut off his head, he said…"One word more, I entreat⁸ you. Grant me a little delay…just a short time to go home and bid my wife and children farewell and to make my will. When I have done this I will come back here and you shall kill me.’ 

 

"But." said the Genie. If I grant you the delay you ask. I am afraid that you will not come back ’ 

 

"I give you my word of honour," answered the merchant, "that I will come back without fall.’ 

 

"How long do you require?’ asked the Genie. 

 

'I ask you for a year's grace," replied the merchant. "I promise you that exactly after twelve months I shall be walling under these trees to give myself up to you." 

 

On this the Genie left him near the fountain and disappeared. 

 

The merchant, mounted his horse and continued his journey towards home.

 

When he arrived home, his wife and children received him with the greatest joy. But instead of embracing them, he began to weep so bitterly that they soon guessed that something terrible had happened to him. 

 

“what has happened, asked his wife." 

 

"Alas!" answered her husband. “I have only a year to live." 

 

Then he told them what had passed between him and the Genie. When they heard this sad news they were in despair and dismay. 

 

The next day the merchant began to settle his affairs. He paid all his debts. He gave presents to his friends and large alms to the poor. He set his slaves at liberty and provided for his wife and children. The year soon passed away and he was obliged to depart. When he tried to say good-bye, he was quite overcome with grief and with difficulty tore himself away. 

 

At length he reached the place -where he had first seen the Genie. He dismounted and sat down at the edge of the fountain where he awaited the Genie in terrible suspense⁹. 

 

Whilst he was thus waiting, an old man leading a red deer came towards him They greeted one another and then the old man said to him. "May I ask. brother, what brought you to this desert place, where there are so many evil genii about? It is a dangerous place to stay too long." 

 

The merchant told the old man why he was obliged to come there. He listened in astonishment¹⁰. 

 

“This is an incredible affair. I should like to be a witness of your interview with the Genie. " 

 

So saying he sat down by the merchant. 

 

While they were talking, another old man came up, followed by two black dogs. He greeted them and asked what they were doing in that place. The old man who was leading the red deer told him the problem of the merchant and the Genie. The second old man had no sooner heard the story than, he too decided¹¹ to stay there to see what would happen. He sat down by the others and was talking when a third old man arrived. He asked why the merchant who was with them, looked so sad. They told him the story and he also resolved to stay with them. 

 

They soon saw in the distance a thick smoke, like a cloud of dust. This smoke came nearer and nearer and then, all at once, it vanished and they saw the Genie who without speaking to them, approached the merchant and said. "Get up and let me kill you as you killed my son." 

 

The merchant and the three old men began to weep and groan¹². 

 

Then the old man leading the red deer threw himself at the monster’s feet and said, "O Prince of the Genii. I beg of you to listen to me. I am going to tell you my story and that of the red deer I have with me and if you find it more miserable¹³ than that of the merchant whom you are about to kill, You can do away with his punishment?" 

 

The Genie thought for a while and then said. "Very well. I agree to this.' The Genie listened to the story of the old man and his deer which was even more pathetic. The Genie became pacified¹⁴ and let the merchant go home without punishment.  

1 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

2 frugal   

adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的

参考例句：

• He was a VIP,but he had a frugal life.他是位要人，但生活俭朴。
• The old woman is frugal to the extreme.那老妇人节约到了极点。

3 genie   

n.妖怪，神怪

参考例句：

• Now the genie of his darkest and weakest side was speaking.他心灵中最阴暗最软弱的部分有一个精灵在说话。
• He had to turn to the Genie of the Ring for help.他不得不向戒指神求助。

4 frightful   

adj.可怕的；讨厌的

参考例句：

• How frightful to have a husband who snores!有一个发鼾声的丈夫多讨厌啊！
• We're having frightful weather these days.这几天天气坏极了。

5 hideous   

adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的

参考例句：

• The whole experience had been like some hideous nightmare.整个经历就像一场可怕的噩梦。
• They're not like dogs,they're hideous brutes.它们不像狗，是丑陋的畜牲。

6 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。

7 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

8 entreat   

v.恳求，恳请

参考例句：

• Charles Darnay felt it hopeless entreat him further,and his pride was touched besides.查尔斯-达尔内感到再恳求他已是枉然，自尊心也受到了伤害。
• I entreat you to contribute generously to the building fund.我恳求您慷慨捐助建设基金。

9 suspense   

n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑

参考例句：

• The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
• The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。

10 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

11 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

12 groan   

vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音

参考例句：

• The wounded man uttered a groan.那个受伤的人发出呻吟。
• The people groan under the burden of taxes.人民在重税下痛苦呻吟。

13 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

14 pacified   

使（某人）安静( pacify的过去式和过去分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平

参考例句：

• The baby could not be pacified. 怎么也止不住婴儿的哭声。
• She shrieked again, refusing to be pacified. 她又尖叫了，无法使她平静下来。