stories by english authors-orient (英国作家故事集)-第11节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
affairsin the southat Marwar。〃
He shambled out of the office and departed in the direction of the
Deputy Commissioner's house。 That day at noon I had occasion to go
down the blinding…hot Mall； and I saw a crooked man crawling along the
white dust of the roadside； his hat in his hand； quavering dolorously after
the fashion of street…singers at Home。 There was not a soul in sight； and he
was out of all possible earshot of the houses。 And he sang through his nose；
turning his head from right to left：
〃The Son of Man goes forth to war； A golden
crown to gain； His blood…red banner streams afar
Who follows in His train？〃
I waited to hear no more； but put the poor wretch into my carriage and
drove him off to the nearest missionary for eventual transfer to the Asylum。
He repeated the hymn twice while he was with me； whom he did not in the
least recognise； and I left him singing it to the missionary。
Two days later I inquired after his welfare of the Superintendent of the
Asylum。
〃He was admitted suffering from sunstroke。 He died early yesterday
morning；〃 said the Superintendent。 〃Is it true that he was half an hour
bareheaded in the sun at midday？〃
〃Yes；〃 said I； 〃but do you happen to know if he had anything upon him
by any chance when he died？〃
〃Not to my knowledge；〃 said the Superintendent。
And there the matter rests。
35
… Page 36…
STORIES
TAJIMA
BY MISS MITFORD
Once upon a time； a certain ronin； Tajima Shume by name； an able and
well…read man； being on his travels to see the world； went up to Kiyoto by
the Tokaido。 ＇The road of the Eastern Sea； the famous highroad leading
from Kiyoto to Yedo。 The name is also used to indicate the provinces
through which it runs。＇ One day； in the neighbourhood of Nagoya； in the
province of Owari； he fell in with a wandering priest； with whom he
entered into conversation。 Finding that they were bound for the same place；
they agreed to travel together； beguiling their weary way by pleasant talk
on divers matters； and so by degrees； as they became more intimate； they
began to speak without restraint about their private affairs； and the priest；
trusting thoroughly in the honour of his companion； told him the object of
his journey。
〃For some time past；〃 said he； 〃I have nourished a wish that has
engrossed all my thoughts； for I am bent on setting up a molten image in
honour of Buddha； with this object I have wandered through various
provinces collecting alms； and （who knows by what weary toil？） we have
succeeded in amassing two hundred ounces of silverenough； I trust； to
erect a handsome bronze figure。〃
What says the proverb？ 〃He who bears a jewel in his bosom bears
poison。〃 Hardly had the ronin heard these words of the priest than an evil
heart arose within him； and he thought to himself； 〃Man's life； from the
womb to the grave； is made up of good and of ill luck。 Here am I； nearly
forty years old； a wanderer； without a calling； or even a hope of
advancement in the world。 To be sure； it seems a shame； yet if I could steal
the money this priest is boasting about； I could live at ease for the rest of
my days；〃 and so he began casting about how best he might compass his
purpose。 But the priest； far from guessing the drift of his comrade's
thoughts； journeyed cheerfully on till they reached the town of Kuana。
Here there is an arm of the sea； which is crossed in ferry…boats； that start
as soon as some twenty or thirty passengers are gathered together； and in
one of these boats the two travellers embarked。 About half…way across； the
36
… Page 37…
STORIES
priest was taken with a sudden necessity to go to the side of the boat； and
the ronin； following him； tripped him up while no one was looking； and
flung him into the sea。 When the boatmen and passengers heard the splash；
and saw the priest struggling in the water； they were afraid； and made
every effort to save him； but the wind was fair； and the boat running
swiftly under the bellying sails； so they were soon a few hundred yards off
from the drowning man； who sank before the boat could be turned to
rescue him。
When he saw this； the ronin feigned the utmost grief and dismay； and
said to his fellow…passengers； 〃This priest； whom we have just lost； was
my cousin； he was going to Kiyoto； to visit the shrine of his patron； and as
I happened to have business there as well； we settled to travel together。
Now； alas！ by this misfortune； my cousin is dead； and I am left alone。〃
He spoke so feelingly； and wept so freely； that the passengers believed
his story； and pitied and tried to comfort him。 Then the ronin said to the
boatmen：
〃We ought； by rights； to report this matter to the authorities； but as I
am pressed for time； and the business might bring trouble on yourselves as
well； perhaps we had better hush it up for the present； I will at once go on
to Kiyoto and tell my cousin's patron； besides writing home about it。 What
think you； gentlemen？〃 added he； turning to the other travellers。
They； of course； were only too glad to avoid any hindrance to their
onward journey； and all with one voice agreed to what the ronin had
proposed； and so the matter was settled。 When； at length； they reached the
shore； they left the boat； and every man went his way； but the ronin；
overjoyed in his heart； took the wandering priest's luggage； and； putting it
with his own； pursued his journey to Kiyoto。
On reaching the capital； the ronin changed his name from Shume to
Tokubei； and； giving up his position as a samurai； turned merchant； and
traded with the dead man's money。 Fortune favouring his speculations； he
began to amass great wealth； and lived at his ease； denying himself
nothing； and in course of time he married a wife； who bore him a child。
Thus the days and months wore on； till one fine summer's night； some
three years after the priest's death； Tokubei stepped out on the veranda of
37
… Page 38…
STORIES
his house to enjoy the cool air and the beauty of the moonlight。 Feeling
dull and lonely； he began musing over all kinds of things； when on a
sudden the deed of murder and theft； done so long ago； vividly recurred to
his memory； and he thought to himself； 〃Here am I； grown rich and fat on
the money I wantonly stole。 Since then； all has gone well with me； yet；
had I not been poor； I had never turned assassin nor thief。 Woe betide me！
what a pity it was！〃 and as he was revolving the matter in his mind； a
feeling of remorse came over him； in spite of all he could do。 While his
conscience thus smote him； he suddenly； to his utter amazement； beheld
the faint outline of a man standing near a fir…tree in the garden； on looking
more attentively； he perceived that the man's whole body was thin and
worn； and the eyes sunken and dim； and in that poor ghost that was before
him he recognised the very priest whom he had thrown into the sea at
Kuana。 Chilled with horror； he looked again； and saw that the priest was
smiling in scorn。 He would have fled into the house； but the ghost
stretched forth its withered arm； and； clutching the back of his neck；
scowled at him with a vindictive glare and a hideous ghastliness of mien
so unspeakably awful that any ordinary man would have swooned with
fear。 But Tokubei； tradesman though he was； had once been a soldier； and
was not easily matched for daring； so he shook off the ghost； and； leaping
into the room for his dirk； laid about him boldly enough； but； strike as he
would； the spirit； fading into the air； eluded his blows； and suddenly
reappeared only to vanish again； and from that time forth Tokubei knew
no rest； an
