(原版)澳大利亚语文第六册 LESSON 40
LESSON 40 THE SAGACIOUS CADI
THE SAGACIOUS CADI
I
In a district of Algeria [1] there lived a sheik [2] called Bou-Akas, who held despotic [3] sway over twelve tribes. In each tribe he placed a cadi [4] of the highest repute for integrity [5] and wisdom to do justice among the people.
When he first took the reins of government, the country was infested with robbers; but he soon found means to extirpate [6] them. It became a saying among the Arabs [7] , that a child might traverse [8] the country of Bou-Akas with a golden crown on his head, and not a hand be stretched out to take it.
Having heard that the cadi of one of his twelve tribes did justice in a manner worthy of Solomon, Bou-Akas determined to judge for himself regarding the truth of the report. Accordingly, dressed as a private person, without arms or attendants, he mounted a docile [9] Arabian steed, and rode to the town of the cadi.
Just as he was entering the gate, a cripple, seizing the border of his garment, asked him for alms in the name of the Prophet. Bou-Akas gave him money; but the cripple still retained his hold. "What dost thou want?" asked the sheik; "I have already given thee alms. What more can I do for thee?"
Thou canst save me—poor, crawling creature that I am!—from being trodden under the feet of men, horses, mules, and camels, a fate that would certainly befall me in passing through the crowded square, in which a fair is now going on.
And how can I save thee?
By taking me behind thee, and setting me down safely in the market-place, where I have business.
Be it so, replied the sheik. And stooping down, he, with a good deal of difficulty, lifted the cripple up behind him. At length they reached the market-place.
Is this where thou wishest to stop? asked the sheik.
Yes.
Then get down.
Get down thyself.
For what?
To leave me the horse.
To leave thee my horse! What dost thou mean by that?
I mean, said the cripple, "that the horse belongs to me. Knowest thou not that we are now in the town of the just cadi? If we bring the case before him, he will certainly decide in my favour."
Why should he do so, when the animal belongs to me?
Dost thou not think that, when he sees thee so able to walk with thy strong, straight limbs, and me with my weak legs and distorted [10] feet, he will decree that the horse shall belong to the man who has most need of it?
Should he do so, he would not be the just cadi, said the sheik.
Oh! as to that, replied the cripple, laughing, "although he is just, he is not infallible [11] ."
So! thought the sheik to himself. "Here is a capital opportunity of judging the judge." And then he said aloud, "I am content. We will go before the cadi."
On arriving at the tribunal [12] , where the judge was administering justice in the Eastern manner, they found there were two trials which came on before theirs.
The first was between a philosopher [13] and a peasant.
The peasant had carried off the philosopher's wife, and now asserted that she was his own, in the face of the philosopher, who demanded her back. What was very strange, the woman remained silent, and would not declare for either. This rendered a decision extremely difficult. The judge heard both sides, reflected for a moment, and then said, "Leave the woman here, and return tomorrow." The philosopher and the peasant having bowed and retired, a butcher and an oil-seller came forward, the latter covered with oil, and the former sprinkled with blood.
THE PHILOSOPHER AND THE PEASANT BEFORE THE CADI
The butcher spoke first. "I bought some oil," said he, "from this man, and pulled out my purse to pay him. The sight of the money tempted him, and he seized me by the wrist to force it from me. I cried out, but he would not let me go. I have held the money in my hand, and he has continued to grasp my wrist, till we are here before thee. This is true—I swear it by the Prophet."
The oil-seller then answered. "This man," said he, "came to my shop to purchase oil. When his bottle was filled he asked me to give him change for a piece of gold. I drew from my pocket a handful of money and laid it on a bench. He immediately seized it, and was walking off with my money and my oil, when I caught him by the wrist and cried out, "Robber!" In spite of my cries, however, he would not give up the money; and I have brought him before thee. This is true—I swear it by Mohammed [14] ."
The cadi made each of them repeat his story; but neither varied one jot from the previours statement. The cadi reflected for a moment, and then said, "Leave the money with me, and return tomorrow." The butcher laid the money down, as he was commanded. He and his opponent then bowed and departed.
It was now the turn of Bou-Akas and the cripple. "My lord cadi," said the sheik, "I came hither from a distant country, with the intention of purchasing goods. At the gate of the city I met this cripple, who first asked for alms [15] , and then prayed that I would take him up behind me, so that he might not be trodden down in the street. I consented; but when we reached the market-place, he refused to dismount, asserting that the horse belonged to him, and that thou wouldst surely adjudge it to him, since he needed it most. This, my lord cadi, is precisely the state of the case—I swear it by Mohammed."
My lord, said the cripple, "as I was coming on business to the market, riding this horse, which belongs to me, I saw this man by the road-side, apparently half-dead from fatigue. I kindly offered to let him ride behind me as far as the market-place, which offer he eagerly accepted. But what was my astonishment when, on our arrival, he refused to get down, and said that my horse was his! I immediately required him to appear before thee. This is the true state of the case—I swear by Mohammed."
The cadi made each repeat his statement, and then, having reflected a moment, he said, "Leave the horse here, and return tomorrow." The sheik and the cripple then withdrew from the court.
* * *
[1] Algeria: A country in the north of Africa.
[2] sheik: Ruler.
[3] despotic: Absolute.
[4] cadi: Judge.
[5] integrity: Honesty.
[6] extirpate: Free, get rid of.
[7] Arabs: Arab thoroughbred horses.
[8] traverse: Cross, travel through.
[9] docile: Gentle.
[10] distorted: Twisted.
[11] infallible: Unable to make a mistake.
[12] tribunal: The seat of a judge.
[13] philosopher: Wise man; soothsayer.
[14] Mohammed: The leader of the Moslem faith.
[15] alms: Gifts to the poor.
