On the morrowhe set out and travelled till he reached the city；butwhen he would have enteredthe gatekeepers laid hands on himthat they might bring him before the King；for that it was his wont to question all strangers respecting their conditions and the crafts in which they were skilled and the reason of their coming thither. Now it was eventidewhen he entered the cityand it was then too late to go in to the King or take counsel with him respecting him. So they carried him to the prisonthinking to lay him therein for the night；but，when the warders saw his beauty and gracethey could not find it in their hearts to imprison himbut made him sit with them，without the prison；and when food came to themhe ate his fill with them. When they had made an end of eatingthey turned to him and said'What countryman art thou？'I come from Persia，'answered he'the land of the Chosros.'When they heard this，they laughed and one of them said'O ChosroinI have heard the talk of men and their histories and looked upon their conditions；but never saw or heard I a greater liar than the Chosroin that is with us in the prison.'Nor，'quoth another，'did I ever see fouler than his favour or more repulsive than his aspect.'What have ye seen of his lying？'asked the princeand they answered'He pretends that he is a sage. Now the King came upon himas he went a-huntingand found with him a most beautiful lady and a horse of ebonynever saw I a handsomer. As for the ladyshe is with the Kingwho is enamoured of her and would fain marry her；but she is madand were this man a physicianas he pretendshe would have cured herfor the King doth his utmost endeavour to find a remedy for her diseaseand this whole year past hath he spent treasures upon physicians and astrologerson her account；but none can avail to cure her. As for the horseit is in the royal treasuryand the man is here with us in the prison；and all night long he weeps and bemoans himself and will not let us sleep.'
第62章 THE ENCHANTED HORSE.(9)（1 / 3）