第7章

类别:其他 作者:Anonymous字数:11111更新时间:18/12/18 14:33:20
THETWOFROGS OnceuponatimeinthecountryofJapantherelivedtwofrogs,oneofwhommadehishomeinaditchnearthetownofOsaka,ontheseacoast,whiletheotherdweltinaclearlittlestreamwhichranthroughthecityofKioto。Atsuchagreatdistanceapart,theyhadneverevenheardofeachother;but,funnilyenough,theideacameintoboththeirheadsatoncethattheyshouldliketoseealittleoftheworld,andthefrogwholivedatKiotowantedtovisitOsaka,andthefrogwholivedatOsakawishedtogotoKioto,wherethegreatMikadohadhispalace。 SoonefinemorninginthespringtheybothsetoutalongtheroadthatledfromKiototoOsaka,onefromoneendandtheotherfromtheother。Thejourneywasmoretiringthantheyexpected,fortheydidnotknowmuchabouttravelling,andhalfwaybetweenthetwotownstherearoseamountainwhichhadtobeclimbed。Ittookthemalongtimeandagreatmanyhopstoreachthetop,buttheretheywereatlast,andwhatwasthesurpriseofeachtoseeanotherfrogbeforehim!Theylookedateachotherforamomentwithoutspeaking,andthenfellintoconversation,explainingthecauseoftheirmeetingsofarfromtheirhomes。Itwasdelightfultofindthattheybothfeltthesamewish——tolearnalittlemoreoftheirnativecountry——andastherewasnosortofhurrytheystretchedthemselvesoutinacool,dampplace,andagreedthattheywouldhaveagoodrestbeforetheypartedtogotheirways。 ’Whatapitywearenotbigger,’saidtheOsakafrog;’forthenwecouldseebothtownsfromhere,andtellifitisworthourwhilegoingon。’ ’Oh,thatiseasilymanaged,’returnedtheKiotofrog。’Wehaveonlygottostanduponourhindlegs,andholdontoeachother,andthenwecaneachlookatthetownheistravellingto。’ ThisideapleasedtheOsakafrogsomuchthatheatoncejumpedupandputhisfrontpawsontheshouldersofhisfriend,whohadrisenalso。Theretheybothstood,stretchingthemselvesashighastheycould,andholdingeachothertightly,sothattheymightnotfalldown。TheKiotofrogturnedhisnosetowardsOsaka,andtheOsakafrogturnedhisnosetowardsKioto;butthefoolishthingsforgotthatwhentheystooduptheirgreateyeslayinthebacksoftheirheads,andthatthoughtheirnosesmightpointtotheplacestowhichtheywantedtogotheireyesbeheldtheplacesfromwhichtheyhadcome。 ’Dearme!’criedtheOsakafrog,’KiotoisexactlylikeOsaka。 Itiscertainlynotworthsuchalongjourney。Ishallgohome!’ ’IfIhadhadanyideathatOsakawasonlyacopyofKiotoI shouldneverhavetravelledallthisway,’exclaimedthefrogfromKioto,andashespokehetookhishandsfromhisfriend’sshoulders,andtheybothfelldownonthegrass。Thentheytookapolitefarewellofeachother,andsetoffforhomeagain,andtotheendoftheirlivestheybelievedthatOsakaandKioto,whichareasdifferenttolookatastwotownscanbe,wereaslikeastwopeas。 [JapanischeMarchen。] THESTORYOFAGAZELLE Onceuponatimetherelivedamanwhowastedallhismoney,andgrewsopoorthathisonlyfoodwasafewgrainsofcorn,whichhescratchedlikeafowlfromoutofadust—heap。 Onedayhewasscratchingasusualamongadust—heapinthestreet,hopingtofindsomethingforbreakfast,whenhiseyefelluponasmallsilvercoin,calledaneighth,whichhegreedilysnatchedup。’NowIcanhaveapropermeal,’hethought,andafterdrinkingsomewateratawellhelaydownandsleptsolongthatitwassunrisebeforehewokeagain。Thenhejumpedupandreturnedtothedust—heap。’Forwhoknows,’hesaidtohimself,’whetherImaynothavesomegoodluckagain。’ Ashewaswalkingdowntheroad,hesawamancomingtowardshim,carryingacagemadeoftwigs。’Hi!youfellow!’calledhe,’whathaveyougotinsidethere?’ ’Gazelles,’repliedtheman。 ’Bringthemhere,forIshouldliketoseethem。’ Ashespoke,somemenwhowerestandingbybegantolaugh,sayingtothemanwiththecage:’Youhadbettertakecarehowyoubargainwithhim,forhehasnothingatallexceptwhathepicksupfromadust—heap,andifhecan’tfeedhimself,willhebeabletofeedagazelle?’ Butthemanwiththecagemadeanswer:’SinceIstartedfrommyhomeinthecountry,fiftypeopleattheleasthavecalledmetoshowthemmygazelles,andwasthereoneamongthemwhocaredtobuy?Itisthecustomforatraderinmerchandisetobesummonedhitherandthither,andwhoknowswhereonemayfindabuyer?’ Andhetookuphiscageandwenttowardsthescratcherofdust—heaps,andthemenwentwithhim。 ’Whatdoyouaskforyourgazelles?’saidthebeggar。’Willyouletmehaveoneforaneighth?’ Andthemanwiththecagetookoutagazelle,andhelditout,saying,’Takethisone,master!’ Andthebeggartookitandcarriedittothedust—heap,wherehescratchedcarefullytillhefoundafewgrainsofcorn,whichhedividedwithhisgazelle。Thishedidnightandmorning,tillfivedayswentby。 Then,asheslept,thegazellewokehim,saying,’Master。’ Andthemananswered,’HowisitthatIseeawonder?’ ’Whatwonder?’askedthegazelle。 ’Why,thatyou,agazelle,shouldbeabletospeak,for,fromthebeginning,myfatherandmotherandallthepeoplethatareintheworldhavenevertoldmeofatalkinggazelle。’ ’Nevermindthat,’saidthegazelle,’butlistentowhatIsay! First,Itookyouformymaster。Second,yougaveformeallyouhadintheworld。Icannotrunawayfromyou,butgiveme,I prayyou,leavetogoeverymorningandseekfoodformyself,andeveryeveningIwillcomebacktoyou。Whatyoufindinthedust—heapsisnotenoughforbothofus。’ ’Go,then,’answeredthemaster;andthegazellewent。 Whenthesunhadset,thegazellecameback,andthepoormanwasveryglad,andtheylaydownandsleptsidebyside。 Inthemorningitsaidtohim,’Iamgoingawaytofeed。’ Andthemanreplied,’Go,myson,’buthefeltverylonelywithouthisgazelle,andsetoutsoonerthanusualforthedust—heapwherehegenerallyfoundmostcorn。Andgladhewaswhentheeveningcame,andhecouldreturnhome。Helayonthegrasschewingtobacco,whenthegazelletrottedup。 ’Goodevening,mymaster;howhaveyoufaredallday?IhavebeenrestingintheshadeinaplacewherethereissweetgrasswhenIamhungry,andfreshwaterwhenIamthirsty,andasoftbreezetofanmeintheheat。Itisfarawayintheforest,andnooneknowsofitbutme,andto—morrowIshallgoagain。’ Soforfivedaysthegazellesetoffatdaybreakforthiscoolspot,butonthefifthdayitcametoaplacewherethegrasswasbitter,anditdidnotlikeit,andscratched,hopingtotearawaythebadblades。But,instead,itsawsomethinglyingintheearth,whichturnedouttobeadiamond,verylargeandbright。 ’Oh,ho!’saidthegazelletoitself,’perhapsnowIcandosomethingformymasterwhoboughtmewithallthemoneyhehad; butImustbecarefulortheywillsayhehasstolenit。Ihadbettertakeitmyselftosomegreatrichman,andseewhatitwilldoforme。’ Directlythegazellehadcometothisconclusion,itpickedupthediamondinitsmouth,andwentonandonandonthroughtheforest,butfoundnoplacewherearichmanwaslikelytodwell。 Fortwomoredaysitran,fromdawntodark,tillatlastearlyonemorningitcaughtsightofalargetown,whichgaveitfreshcourage。 Thepeoplewerestandingaboutthestreetsdoingtheirmarketing,whenthegazelleboundedpast,thediamondflashingasitran。 Theycalledafterit,butittooknonoticetillitreachedthepalace,wherethesultanwassitting,enjoyingthecoolair。Andthegazellegallopeduptohim,andlaidthediamondathisfeet。 Thesultanlookedfirstatthediamondandnextatthegazelle; thenheorderedhisattendantstobringcushionsandacarpet,thatthegazellemightrestitselfafteritslongjourney。Andhelikewiseorderedmilktobebrought,andrice,thatitmighteatanddrinkandberefreshed。 Andwhenthegazellewasrested,thesultansaidtoit:’Givemethenewsyouhavecomewith。’ Andthegazelleanswered:’Iamcomewiththisdiamond,whichisapledgefrommymastertheSultanDarai。Hehasheardyouhaveadaughter,andsendsyouthissmalltoken,andbegsyouwillgivehertohimtowife。’ Andthesultansaid:’Iamcontent。Thewifeishiswife,thefamilyishisfamily,theslaveishisslave。Lethimcometomeempty—handed,Iamcontent。’ Whenthesultanhadended,thegazellerose,andsaid:’Master,farewell;Igobacktoourtown,andineightdays,oritmaybeinelevendays,weshallarriveasyourguests。’ Andthesultananswered:’Soletitbe。’ Allthistimethepoormanfarawayhadbeenmourningandweepingforhisgazelle,whichhethoughthadrunawayfromhimforever。 Andwhenitcameinatthedoorherushedtoembraceitwithsuchjoythathewouldnotallowitachancetospeak。 ’Bestill,master,anddon’tcry,’saidthegazelleatlast;’letussleepnow,andinthemorning,whenIgo,followme。’ Withthefirstrayofdawntheygotupandwentintotheforest,andonthefifthday,astheywererestingnearastream,thegazellegaveitsmasterasoundbeating,andthenbadehimstaywherehewastillitreturned。Andthegazelleranoff,andaboutteno’clockitcamenearthesultan’spalace,wheretheroadwasalllinedwithsoldierswhoweretheretodohonourtoSultanDarai。Anddirectlytheycaughtsightofthegazelleinthedistanceoneofthesoldiersranonandsaid,’SultanDaraiiscoming:Ihaveseenthegazelle。’ Thenthesultanroseup,andcalledhiswholecourttofollowhim,andwentouttomeetthegazelle,who,boundinguptohim,gavehimgreeting。Thesultanansweredpolitely,andinquiredwhereithadleftitsmaster,whomithadpromisedtobringback。 ’Alas!’repliedthegazelle,’heislyingintheforest,foronourwayhereweweremetbyrobbers,who,afterbeatingandrobbinghim,tookawayallhisclothes。Andheisnowhidingunderabush,lestapassingstrangermightseehim。’ Thesultan,onhearingwhathadhappenedtohisfutureson—in—law,turnedhishorseandrodetothepalace,andbadeagroomtoharnessthebesthorseinthestableandorderawomanslavetobringabagofclothes,suchasamanmightwant,outofthechest;andhechoseoutatunicandaturbanandasashforthewaist,andfetchedhimselfagold—hiltedsword,andadaggerandapairofsandals,andastickofsweet—smellingwood。 ’Now,’saidhetothegazelle,’takethesethingswiththesoldierstothesultan,thathemaybeabletocome。’ Andthegazelleanswered:’CanItakethosesoldierstogoandputmymastertoshameasheliestherenaked?Iamenoughbymyself,mylord。’ ’Howwillyoubeenough,’askedthesultan,’tomanagethishorseandalltheseclothes?’ ’Oh,thatiseasilydone,’repliedthegazelle。’Fastenthehorsetomyneckandtietheclothestothebackofthehorse,andbesuretheyarefixedfirmly,asIshallgofasterthanhedoes。’ Everythingwascarriedoutasthegazellehadordered,andwhenallwasreadyitsaidtothesultan:’Farewell,mylord,Iamgoing。’ ’Farewell,gazelle,’answeredthesultan;’whenshallweseeyouagain?’ ’To—morrowaboutfive,’repliedthegazelle,and,givingatugtothehorse’srein,theysetoffatagallop。 Thesultanwatchedthemtilltheywereoutofsight:thenhesaidtohisattendants,’Thatgazellecomesfromgentlehands,fromthehouseofasultan,andthatiswhatmakesitsodifferentfromothergazelles。’Andintheeyesofthesultanthegazellebecameapersonofconsequence。 Meanwhilethegazelleranontillitcametotheplacewhereitsmasterwasseated,andhisheartlaughedwhenhesawthegazelle。 Andthegazellesaidtohim,’Getup,mymaster,andbatheinthestream!’andwhenthemanhadbatheditsaidagain,’Nowrubyourselfwellwithearth,andrubyourteethwellwithsandtomakethembrightandshining。’Andwhenthiswasdoneitsaid,’Thesunhasgonedownbehindthehills;itistimeforustogo’:soitwentandbroughttheclothesfromthebackofthehorse,andthemanputthemonandwaswellpleased。 ’Master!’saidthegazellewhenthemanwasready,’besurethatwherewearegoingyoukeepsilence,exceptforgivinggreetingsandaskingfornews。Leaveallthetalkingtome。Ihaveprovidedyouwithawife,andhavemadeherpresentsofclothesandturbansandrareandpreciousthings,soitisneedlessforyoutospeak。’ ’Verygood,Iwillbesilent,’repliedthemanashemountedthehorse。’Youhavegivenallthis;itisyouwhoarethemaster,andIwhoamtheslave,andIwillobeyyouinallthings。’ ’Sotheywenttheirway,andtheywentandwenttillthegazellesawinthedistancethepalaceofthesultan。Thenitsaid,’Master,thatisthehousewearegoingto,andyouarenotapoormananylonger:evenyournameisnew。’ ’WhatISmyname,eh,myfather?’askedtheman。 ’SultanDarai,’saidthegazelle。 Verysoonsomesoldierscametomeetthem,whileothersranofftotellthesultanoftheirapproach。Andthesultansetoffatonce,andtheviziersandtheemirs,andthejudges,andtherichmenofthecity,allfollowedhim。 Directlythegazellesawthemcoming,itsaidtoitsmaster: ’Yourfather—in—lawiscomingtomeetyou;thatisheinthemiddle,wearingamantleofsky—blue。Getoffyourhorseandgotogreethim。’ AndSultanDaraileaptfromhishorse,andsodidtheothersultan,andtheygavetheirhandstooneanotherandkissedeachother,andwenttogetherintothepalace。 Thenextmorningthegazellewenttotheroomsofthesultan,andsaidtohim:’Mylord,wewantyoutomarryusourwife,forthesoulofSultanDaraiiseager。’ ’Thewifeisready,socallthepriest,’answeredhe,andwhentheceremonywasoveracannonwasfiredandmusicwasplayed,andwithinthepalacetherewasfeasting。 ’Master,’saidthegazellethefollowingmorning,’Iamsettingoutonajourney,andIshallnotbebackforsevendays,andperhapsnotthen。ButbecarefulnottoleavethehousetillI come。’ Andthemasteranswered,’Iwillnotleavethehouse。’ Anditwenttothesultanofthecountryandsaidtohim:’Mylord,SultanDaraihassentmetohistowntogetthehouseinorder。Itwilltakemesevendays,andifIamnotbackinsevendayshewillnotleavethepalacetillIreturn。’ ’Verygood,’saidthesultan。 Anditwentanditwentthroughtheforestandwilderness,tillitarrivedatatownfulloffinehouses。Attheendofthechiefroadwasagreathouse,beautifulexceedingly,builtofsapphireandturquoiseandmarbles。’That,’thoughtthegazelle,’isthehouseformymaster,andIwillcallupmycourageandgoandlookatthepeoplewhoareinit,ifanypeoplethereare。 ForinthistownhaveIasyetseennopeople。IfIdie,Idie,andifIlive,Ilive。HerecanIthinkofnoplan,soifanythingistokillme,itwillkillme。’ Thenitknockedtwiceatthedoor,andcried’Open,’butnooneanswered。Anditcriedagain,andavoicereplied: ’Whoareyouthatarecrying\"Open\"?’ Andthegazellesaid,’ItisI,greatmistress,yourgrandchild。’ ’Ifyouaremygrandchild,’returnedthevoice,’gobackwhenceyoucame。Don’tcomeanddiehere,andbringmetomydeathaswell。’ ’Open,mistress,Ientreat,Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou。’ ’Grandchild,’repliedshe,’Ifeartoputyourlifeindanger,andmyowntoo。’ ’Oh,mistress,mylifewillnotbelost,noryourseither;open,Iprayyou。’Sosheopenedthedoor。 ’Whatisthenewswhereyoucomefrom,mygrandson,’askedshe。 ’Greatlady,whereIcomefromitiswell,andwithyouitiswell。’ ’Ah,myson,hereitisnotwellatall。Ifyouseekawaytodie,orifyouhavenotyetseendeath,thenisto—daythedayforyoutoknowwhatdyingis。’ ’IfIamtoknowit,Ishallknowit,’repliedthegazelle;’buttellme,whoisthelordofthishouse?’ Andshesaid:’Ah,father!inthishouseismuchwealth,andmuchpeople,andmuchfood,andmanyhorses。Andthelordofitallisanexceedinggreatandwonderfulsnake。’ ’Oh!’criedthegazellewhenheheardthis;’tellmehowIcangetatthesnaketokillhim?’ ’Myson,’returnedtheoldwoman,’donotsaywordslikethese; youriskbothourlives。Hehasputmehereallbymyself,andI havetocookhisfood。Whenthegreatsnakeiscomingtherespringsupawind,andblowsthedustabout,andthisgoesontillthegreatsnakeglidesintothecourtyardandcallsforhisdinner,whichmustalwaysbereadyforhiminthosebigpots。Heeatstillhehashadenough,andthendrinksawholetankfulofwater。Afterthathegoesaway。Everyseconddayhecomes,whenthesunisoverthehouse。Andhehassevenheads。Howthencanyoubeamatchforhim,myson?’ ’Mindyourownbusiness,mother,’answeredthegazelle,’anddon’tmindotherpeople’s!Hasthissnakeasword?’ ’Hehasasword,andasharponetoo。Itcutslikeadashoflightning。’ ’Giveittome,mother!’saidthegazelle,andsheunhookedtheswordfromthewall,asshewasbidden。’Youmustbequick,’shesaid,’forhemaybehereatanymoment。Hark!isnotthatthewindrising?Hehascome!’ Theyweresilent,buttheoldwomanpeepedfrombehindacurtain,andsawthesnakebusyatthepotswhichshehadplacedreadyforhiminthecourtyard。Andafterhehaddoneeatinganddrinkinghecametothedoor: ’Youoldbody!’hecried;’whatsmellisthatIsmellinsidethatisnotthesmellofeveryday?’ ’Oh,master!’answeredshe,’Iamalone,asIalwaysam!Butto—day,aftermanydays,Ihavesprinkledfreshscentalloverme,anditisthatwhichyousmell。Whatelsecoulditbe,master?’ Allthistimethegazellehadbeenstandingclosetothedoor,holdingtheswordinoneofitsfrontpaws。Andasthesnakeputoneofhisheadsthroughtheholethathehadmadesoastogetinandoutcomfortably,itcutitofsocleanthatthesnakereallydidnotfeelit。Thesecondblowwasnotquitesostraight,forthesnakesaidtohimself,’Whoisthatwhoistryingtoscratchme?’andstretchedouthisthirdheadtosee; butnosoonerwastheneckthroughtheholethantheheadwentrollingtojointherest。 Whensixofhisheadsweregonethesnakelashedhistailwithsuchfurythatthegazelleandtheoldwomancouldnotseeeachotherforthedusthemade。Andthegazellesaidtohim,’Youhaveclimbedallsortsoftrees,butthisyoucan’tclimb,’andastheseventhheadcamedartingthroughitwentrollingtojointherest。 Thentheswordfellrattlingontheground,forthegazellehadfainted。 Theoldwomanshriekedwithdelightwhenshesawherenemywasdead,andrantobringwatertothegazelle,andfannedit,andputitwherethewindcouldblowonit,tillitgrewbetterandgaveasneeze。Andtheheartoftheoldwomanwasglad,andshegaveitmorewater,tillby—and—bythegazellegotup。 ’Showmethishouse,’itsaid,’frombeginningtoend,fromtoptobottom,frominsidetoout。’ Soshearoseandshowedthegazelleroomsfullofgoldandpreciousthings,andotherroomsfullofslaves。’Theyareallyours,goodsandslaves,’saidshe。 Butthegazelleanswered,’YoumustkeepthemsafetillIcallmymaster。’ Fortwodaysitlayandrestedinthehouse,andfedonmilkandrice,andonthethirddayitbadetheoldwomanfarewellandstartedbacktoitsmaster。 Andwhenheheardthatthegazellewasatthedoorhefeltlikeamanwhohasfoundthetimewhenallprayersaregranted,andheroseandkissedit,saying:’Myfather,youhavebeenalongtime;youhaveleftsorrowwithme。Icannoteat,Icannotdrink,Icannotlaugh;myheartfeltnosmileatanything,becauseofthinkingofyou。’ Andthegazelleanswered:’Iamwell,andwhereIcomefromitiswell,andIwishthatafterfourdaysyouwouldtakeyourwifeandgohome。’ Andhesaid:’Itisforyoutospeak。Whereyougo,Iwillfollow。’ ’ThenIshallgotoyourfather—in—lawandtellhimthisnews。’ ’Go,myson。’ Sothegazellewenttothefather—in—lawandsaid:’Iamsentbymymastertocomeandtellyouthatafterfourdayshewillgoawaywithhiswifetohisownhome。’ ’Musthereallygosoquickly?Wehavenotyetsatmuchtogether,IandSultanDarai,norhaveweyettalkedmuchtogether,norhaveweyetriddenouttogether,norhaveweeatentogether;yetitisfourteendayssincehecame。’ Butthegazellereplied:’Mylord,youcannothelpit,forhewishestogohome,andnothingwillstophim。’ ’Verygood,’saidthesultan,andhecalledallthepeoplewhowereinthetown,andcommandedthatthedayhisdaughterleftthepalaceladiesandguardsweretoattendheronherway。 AndattheendoffourdaysagreatcompanyofladiesandslavesandhorseswentforthtoescortthewifeofSultanDaraitohernewhome。Theyrodeallday,andwhenthesunsankbehindthehillstheyrested,andateofthefoodthegazellegavethem,andlaydowntosleep。Andtheyjourneyedonformanydays,andtheyall,noblesandslaves,lovedthegazellewithagreatlove—— morethantheylovedtheSultanDarai。 Atlastonedaysignsofhousesappeared,far,faroff。Andthosewhosawcriedout,’Gazelle!’ Anditanswered,’Ah,mymistresses,thatisthehouseofSultanDarai。’ Atthisnewsthewomenrejoicedmuch,andtheslavesrejoicedmuch,andinthespaceoftwohourstheycametothegates,andthegazellebadethemallstaybehind,anditwentontothehousewithSultanDarai。 Whentheoldwomansawthemcomingthroughthecourtyardshejumpedandshoutedforjoy,andasthegazelledrewnearsheseizeditinherarms,andkissedit。Thegazelledidnotlikethis,andsaidtoher:’Oldwoman,leavemealone;theonetobecarriedismymaster,andtheonetobekissedismymaster。’ Andsheanswered,’Forgiveme,myson。Ididnotknowthiswasourmaster,’andshethrewopenallthedoorssothatthemastermightseeeverythingthattheroomsandstorehousescontained。 SultanDarailookedabouthim,andatlengthhesaid: ’Unfastenthosehorsesthataretiedup,andletloosethosepeoplethatarebound。Andletsomesweep,andsomespreadthebeds,andsomecook,andsomedrawwater,andsomecomeoutandreceivethemistress。’ Andwhenthesultanaandherladiesandherslavesenteredthehouse,andsawtherichstuffsitwashungwith,andthebeautifulricethatwaspreparedforthemtoeat,theycried: ’Ah,yougazelle,wehaveseengreathouses,wehaveseenpeople,wehaveheardofthings。Butthishouse,andyou,suchasyouare,wehaveneverseenorheardof。’ Afterafewdays,theladiessaidtheywishedtogohomeagain。 Thegazellebeggedthemhardtostay,butfindingtheywouldnot,itbroughtmanygifts,andgavesometotheladiesandsometotheirslaves。Andtheyallthoughtthegazellegreaterathousandtimesthanitsmaster,SultanDarai。 Thegazelleanditsmasterremainedinthehousemanyweeks,andonedayitsaidtotheoldwoman,’Icamewithmymastertothisplace,andIhavedonemanythingsformymaster,goodthings,andtillto—dayhehasneveraskedme:\"Well,mygazelle,howdidyougetthishouse?Whoistheownerofit?Andthistown,weretherenopeopleinit?\"AllgoodthingsIhavedoneforthemaster,andhehasnotonedaydonemeanygoodthing。Butpeoplesay,\"Ifyouwanttodoanyonegood,don’tdohimgoodonly,dohimevilalso,andtherewillbepeacebetweenyou。\" So,mother,Ihavedone:IwanttoseethefavoursIhavedonetomymaster,thathemaydomethelike。’ ’Good,’repliedtheoldwoman,andtheywenttobed。 Inthemorning,whenlightcame,thegazellewassickinitsstomachandfeverish,anditslegsached。Anditsaid’Mother!’ Andsheanswered,’Here,myson?’ Anditsaid,’Goandtellmymasterupstairsthegazelleisveryill。’ ’Verygood,myson;andifheshouldaskmewhatisthematter,whatamItosay?’ ’Tellhimallmybodyachesbadly;Ihavenosinglepartwithoutpain。’ Theoldwomanwentupstairs,andshefoundthemistressandmastersittingonacouchofmarblespreadwithsoftcushions,andtheyaskedher,’Well,oldwoman,whatdoyouwant?’ ’Totellthemasterthegazelleisill,’saidshe。 ’Whatisthematter?’askedthewife。 ’Allitsbodypains;thereisnopartwithoutpain。’ ’Well,whatcanIdo?Makesomegruelofredmillet,andgivetoit。’ Buthiswifestaredandsaid:’Oh,master,doyoutellhertomakethegazellegrueloutofredmillet,whichahorsewouldnoteat?Eh,master,thatisnotwell。’ Butheanswered,’Oh,youaremad!Riceisonlykeptforpeople。’ ’Eh,master,thisisnotlikeagazelle。Itistheappleofyoureye。Ifsandgotintothat,itwouldtroubleyou。’ ’Mywife,yourtongueislong,’andhelefttheroom。 Theoldwomansawshehadspokenvainly,andwentbackweepingtothegazelle。Andwhenthegazellesawheritsaid,’Mother,whatisit,andwhydoyoucry?Ifitbegood,givemetheanswer; andifitbebad,givemetheanswer。’ Butstilltheoldwomanwouldnotspeak,andthegazelleprayedhertoletitknowthewordsofthemaster。Atlastshesaid: ’Iwentupstairsandfoundthemistressandthemastersittingonacouch,andheaskedmewhatIwanted,andItoldhimthatyou,hisslave,wereill。Andhiswifeaskedwhatwasthematter,andItoldherthattherewasnotapartofyourbodywithoutpain。 Andthemastertoldmetotakesomeredmilletandmakeyougruel,butthemistresssaid,’Eh,master,thegazelleistheappleofyoureye;youhavenochild,thisgazelleislikeyourchild;sothisgazelleisnotonetobedoneevilto。Thisisagazelleinform,butnotagazelleinheart;heisinallthingsbetterthanagentleman,behewhohemay。’ Andheansweredher,’Sillychatterer,yourwordsaremany。I knowitsprice;Iboughtitforaneighth。Whatlosswillitbetome?’ Thegazellekeptsilenceforafewmoments。Thenitsaid,’Theelderssaid,\"Onethatdoesgoodlikeamother,\"andIhavedonehimgood,andIhavegotthisthattheelderssaid。Butgoupagaintothemaster,andtellhimthegazelleisveryill,andithasnotdrunkthegruelofredmillet。’