天宫的美味(2)
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he zi 于 1999/12/22 01:24:05 发表在 汉英
他再醒来时已是清晨，万物还笼罩在神赐的静谧中。易卜拉欣懒懒地猜测着，他会以怎样的方式活下去呢？空中的鸟儿会给他衔来食物？还是河里的鱼会自动跳上岸来，缓和一下他越来越强烈的饥饿感？那些值得真主佑助的人们最初又是怎么得到帮助的呢，假如不是以一种奇迹般的方式？当然，富人是从父母亲那儿继承的财产，可总得有个开始嘛。没准儿，一位帕夏会驾着大航船顺流而来，用金杯银盏为他开宴呢。
清晨变成白昼，白昼又变成夜晚，奇迹仍没有发生。不止一位帕夏驾着黄金涂覆的航船滑过眼前，可是除了照例打个招呼，丝毫也没有其它迹象。另一侧的大路上，朝圣者、旅行者络绎而行，可是谁也不看他一眼。饥饿吞噬着他的活力，他艳羡地想到，神学校的毛拉们现在可能正享受着羊奶煮的小米粥。不过他还是充满信心。在河中行例行的大净时，他的信念毫无减退。
他又入睡了。新的一天又在银红的美丽黎明中开始了。这回他觉得太虚弱了，几乎站不起来。时光一点一点地爬过，看不到什么迹象能解决这饥肠辘辘。
终于，热得能令人窒息的正午将临的时候，水面上漂着的一样东西吸引了他的目光。好象是线绳捆着的一团叶子。他涉水捞起了它。带着奖品，踢溅着河水，他冲上岸，在草地上坐下，打开了小包。里面是一大块最美味的东西--看起来象哈瓦，一种有名的杏仁饼。只有巴格达人才知道做哈瓦的诀窍：这种甜食是用糖拌上杏仁酱、玫瑰花汁和其它各种各样精细甘美的调汁制成的。
智慧的易卜拉欣狼吞虎咽地吃下了这让人心旷神怡的美食，又到河里喝了不少水，慵懒地躺在草地上，心想自己的祈祷应验了，从此不必再劳碌。这仙品般的佳肴每天都够他吃三顿的。每一天的午间祷告过后，水上就漂来一包相似的哈瓦，仿佛是天使之手放在那里的。
这位毛拉想：“无疑，安拉的许诺是不骗人的，相信他的人一定不会上当。我离开神学校确实是对的。在那里，我一天到晚不得不干的就是把神的知识往一些傻瓜的脑袋里灌；教他们十五遍也还是连一节书都记不住。”
几个月过去了，易卜拉欣准确无误地每日得到安拉许诺的食品。很自然地，他开始想，它们是哪儿来的呢？如果他能找到食品放入水中的地点，他就会亲睹一件奇迹，而以前他还从无这种经历呢。他多么想拥有这份目睹奇迹的德行，而这又无疑会大大增加他圣徒的名声。
因此有一回，头天吃完了最后一份哈瓦之后，第二天早晨他就准备出发了。拿着自己的东西，他开始向河上游慢慢走去。
他想：“唔，假如我猜得不错，今天我就会比往常早一点收到那甜美的食物，因为我离食物放到水里的地方更近了。而我每天都会比前一天更早收到食物，最后我就能到达那个地点--真主从天宫派来的天使就在那儿把天宫美味放进河中。这是为了酬答我对仁慈的主的信念啊。”
易卜拉欣向河上游走的这些天，一直留神沿着河岸而行，眼光不离河水，生怕没认出哈瓦包儿而把它错过了。每天，在一个更早些的钟点，哈瓦都必定漂过他眼前。因为离河岸很近，他可以很容易地趟水把它捞起来。晚上他便就近找棵树，睡在树下。人们看他是位毛拉和圣徒，并不来打扰他。
旅程的第四天，易卜拉欣看到河面变宽了。水中有一个很大的岛屿，上面是一座美丽的宫殿。岛上仿佛王侯领地一般，华贵的草地，缤纷的花园，窄窄的银色溪流纵横交错，后面是巨大山峦的蓝色的齿形峰巅。宫殿用雕冰也似的白色大理石建成，它影中的绿色草地向下一直铺展到静静的、辽阔的金色沙滩。
夜色降临时，浪漫月光照射下的这个仙境发出璀璨的、天国一般的光辉。虔诚的易卜拉欣只能用天宫来加以比拟。白色的宫殿立在暗色的岩石上，仿佛白昼立于黑夜之上；桃金娘海碧色的影中耸起亭阁的尖顶，亭中传来六弦琴和诗琴的乐音，还有令人沉醉的甜美歌声。生活在神学校里的易卜拉欣怎么也不能相信人间会有如此曼妙的歌声。
(但愿tian xin旅行前还来得及听完故事；但愿“听故事的”友人没被这卖关子式的讲故事弄烦。谢谢你们的鼓励。祝愿安好。)
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当然不烦，翻译需要时间，可以理解。谢谢！不过...
作者：听故事的 - 1999/12/22 01:57:16
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既然这里是双语论坛，当然希望同英文版对照着看啦。哪里可以找到英文版呢？
tian xin呢，您就别担心啦，哪怕天涯海角，也会象Geoff一家那样，只要能够找个cyber cafe也会惦记着仙鹤衔来之天宫美味的。就象其它沉默的大多数，虽然藏拙有方，但绝对舍不得错过品尝天宫美味的机会。汉英每天的访客始终有增无减就已说明了问题。有什么好故事，您就尽管自信地拿出来分享吧。如果人人都学着藏拙，那就很难长进了。
再谢He Zi! 也祝您节日快乐！
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汉英好朋友
作者：he zi - 1999/12/23 06:24:23
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谢谢您的鼓励。很遗憾，我在网上没找到英文版的故事。当时选择这么个长故事也许并非明智之
举，说到底只是因为喜欢；用了译文而非原文是觉得翻译比干抄有趣味一点。如果想读原文，一
种办法是看书(World Tales)；要不，等我实在有勇气的时候，给您往这儿搬:-)。不过有个条件讲
讲：您得替我的翻译提提意见，毛病太多，捡主要的说吧。我也知道这要求无理了点儿:-))
不过即使真搬书，也需过些时候。我最近也不得不离开汉英一段时间了。汉英不仅使人增长了知
识，她的那种氛围总是调动和唤起着人心中好的、友爱的、积极的那一面。这样的论坛、斑竹、
论坛上的朋友自然是会让人想念的。也借这个机会向所有朋友致真诚的感谢和最好的祝愿！
来年见！
(别忘了多存点儿Water和Food过年:-)))
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哈哈哈...听完了故事，才品出了殿下您扔给咱的“哈瓦”之仙味儿！但是，没有上当！
作者：听故事的 - 1999/12/23 13:09:04
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还是要学易卜拉欣对您说，“殿下，您每日为我送来美味的食物，我的深深感激难道还不足以使我为您效劳吗？您每天早晨从城垛上投下的哈瓦，顺流而来，我带着感谢将它们吃下。不用说，只能是天使在您心中播下了这个念头。”
不敢有劳殿下一个一个字地将英文版搬上论坛，只要将故事的复印件传真过来，“我的深深感激难道还不足以使我为您效劳，”将传真件扫描到网上吗？:-)再谢！
预祝旅途愉快，早日归来再投“哈瓦”，咱就用不着为过年的“Water和Food”犯愁了:-)
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真要传真啊？
作者：he zi - 1999/12/23 23:08:57
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If you do want the English version, I'm afraid I have to ask for your FAX number, or better snail mail address maybe, 'cause that's an easier way for me.
Thanks for your greetings and encouragement. May peace and happiness be with you too!
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If it's convenient...
作者：听故事的 - 1999/12/23 23:24:03
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I can give you my fax number now. As for the snail mail address, I'm not sure if I should publish it on the net. If you can email the host, she will tell you my address. All right? Again thanks for all the "hava(?)":-) Happy New Year!
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O.K.! Just sit by the river and wait :-))
作者：hz - 1999/12/24 00:40:24
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But I'm afraid I can't send it within a week or so. Very sorry for this. All the Best!
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No problem, I have the patience:-) BTW, do u want me to free u from the spell-bound castle:-)
作者：听故事的 - 1999/12/24 00:46:06
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A hand much needed! :-) Don't know will get the right or the left one?
作者：hz - 1999/12/24 00:58:00
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Whichever! The right one is always right, or else u'll be LEFT hopeless:-)
作者：听故事的 - 1999/12/24 01:06:27
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Excellent! 不见不散:-) 顺祝晚安！
作者：hz - 1999/12/24 01:09:46
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Okay, be there or be square:-) Good night!
作者：听故事的 - 1999/12/24 01:15:21
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Right or left? What's right is always right and what's left is always mine as "hava" :-)
作者：易卜拉辛 - 1999/12/24 19:41:43
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I love all your stories! Songs translated by you are even more beautiful! /
作者：yuki - 1999/12/22 04:29:30
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Many thanks, dear yuki! 我喜欢你唱的那些歌儿，俏皮的、抒情的。愿你的生活就向一曲美妙的歌！
作者：he zi - 1999/12/23 06:02:17
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仙鹤应悔偷仙味，网海馋虫顿顿念:)
作者：tian xin - 1999/12/22 07:06:17
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天宫的美味（1）
圣城多圣人
毛拉有大智
大智觉大悟
大叹大命苦
满腹经纶才
有心事真主
生而不逢时
屈就雕榆木
有信神厚顾
何苦穷劳碌
将心托安拉
天自降食物
御职尽可抛
若为自由故
潇洒出皇门
尽得三昧时
天宫的美味（2）
地床天作被
入梦候神赐
黑夜复白昼
明日复明日
衣带渐渐宽
信念寸寸坚
青青河畔草
茫茫烟水间
精诚金石开
美味飘忽至
毛拉得仙肴
全不费功夫
一尝入仙境
再品成神人
毛拉受天恩
涕零欲断魂
美食何处来
仙味为何物
欲待泄天机
还须仙鹤子
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Many thanks for your excellent summary!
作者：he zi - 1999/12/23 05:57:09
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真希望您出发前可以看到这个故事，算一份小小的节日礼物。讲故事好大一部分原因是喜欢读您的
review，不过看来得等来年了。匆匆忙忙，翻得很糙，再读一遍，又能找出错，暂时就将错就错了。
PEACE.
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天宫的美味
作者：he zi - 1999/12/23 05:47:35
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天宫的美味
朝拜完圣城麦加要离开的时候，我加入了艾穆酋长的商队。酋长不仅是位出色的精神导师，还是
有名的讲古时候故事的能手。他问我，我这么东游西逛完了以后打算干嘛呢？我漫不经心地逗趣
说：什么也不干，真主怎么会让他的忠诚信徒饿肚子！
“听我说，孩子，”酋长靠着他的驼鞍，开口道。哈，我知道又有故事听啦。下面就是酋长讲的
故事。
在国王建的神学校里坐着虔诚的易卜拉欣毛拉，他双手叠在膝上，正在那儿沉思默想。易卜拉欣
的学生来自伊斯兰世界各地，可是他的工作得不到人们的感谢，报酬也不好。他坐在那儿，这么
多年里头一回考虑起自己的处境来。
“这到底是为什么，”他跟自己说道，“象我这样的圣者要来辛辛苦苦地指导一群木头，而那些
既不虔诚也不好好服从真主旨意的人却一点儿也不劳累，也不会忙得团团转，还天天过得那么阔
气！仁慈的主啊，这不是不公平吗？为什么您的仆人就该背着重负，跟巴扎上的驴子似的，驮着
两个装得满满的驮筐，在赶车人的竹鞭下跌跌撞撞？”
智慧的易卜拉欣--人们都这样称呼他--这么琢磨着，就想起古兰经里的一句话：“真主不会让任何
人饿着。”他开始认真地跟自个儿商量起来：“没准儿，我老责备他们懒惰的那些人其实是比我
更合格的穆斯林，比我还虔诚？他们仔细地读了这段话之后可能就想，‘这话包括了所有的人，
那我就把自己完全托付给安拉吧。慷慨的主一定会赐给我食物，让我活下去的。’是啊，干嘛要
象那些不信安拉的人一样辛苦劳碌呢？有信念的人才是真主的选民。”
这时，一位尊贵的帕夏在学校门外停下，象任何好穆斯林一样，出于虔诚而走下轿子，给了一位
乞丐一些施舍。易卜拉欣透过窗子看见这一切，寻思道：“看看乞丐，看看帕夏，不正表明我刚
才思考的那段话是正确的吗？谁都不会饿着，但越阔的人肯定是越虔诚的，因为他是施予的人而
不是接受的人。就为这个目的，主把世上的财物都保佑给他们了。我还犹豫什么，我这个可怜虫
！我难道不该象圣书教导的那样，把自己完全托付给安拉，把自己从这个不可忍受的负担下彻底
解放出来，再也不去教一群废物他们永远也搞不懂的智慧了吗？”
说着，圣徒易卜拉欣就从他国王学院的座位上站起来，走出住了多年的巴格达城。那时正是夜晚
，他沿着河岸走去。在一株冠盖阔大的柏树下，他挑了块干燥遮荫的地儿。一边等待着安拉的恩
赐，一边就沉入了梦乡，相信安拉绝不会让他失望。
他再醒来时已是清晨，万物还笼罩在神赐的静谧中。易卜拉欣懒懒地猜测着，他会以怎样的方式
活下去呢？空中的鸟儿会给他衔来食物？还是河里的鱼会自动跳上岸来，缓和一下他越来越强烈
的饥饿感？那些值得真主佑助的人们最初又是怎么得到帮助的呢，假如不是以一种奇迹般的方式
？当然，富人是从父母亲那儿继承的财产，可总得有个开始嘛。没准儿，一位帕夏会驾着大航船
顺流而来，用金杯银盏为他开宴呢。
清晨变成白昼，白昼又变成夜晚，奇迹仍没有发生。不止一位帕夏驾着金子涂覆的航船滑过眼前
，可是除了照例打个招呼，丝毫也没有其它迹象。另一侧的大路上，朝圣者、旅行者络绎而行，
可是谁也不看他一眼。饥饿吞噬着他的活力，他艳羡地想到，神学校的毛拉们现在可能正享受着
羊奶煮的小米粥。不过他还是充满信心。在河中行例行的大净时，他的信念毫无减退。
他又入睡了。新的一天又在银红的美丽黎明中开始了。这回他觉得太虚弱了，几乎站不起来。时
光一点一点地爬过，看不到什么迹象能解决这饥肠辘辘。
终于，热得可令人窒息的正午将临的时候，水面上漂着的一样东西吸引了他的目光。好象是线绳
捆着的一团叶子。他涉水捞起了它。带着奖品，踢溅着河水，他冲上岸，在草地上坐下，打开了
小包。里面是一大块最美味的东西--看起来象哈瓦，一种有名的杏仁饼。只有巴格达人知道做哈
瓦的诀窍：这种甜食是用糖拌上杏仁酱、玫瑰花汁和其它各种各样精细甘美的调汁制成的。
智慧的易卜拉欣狼吞虎咽地吃下了这让人心旷神怡的美食，又到河里喝了不少水，慵懒地躺在草
地上，心想自己的祈祷应验了，从此不必再劳碌。这仙品般的佳肴每天都够他吃三顿的。每一天
的午间祷告过后，水上就漂来一包相似的哈瓦，仿佛是天使之手放在那里的。
这位毛拉想：“无疑，安拉的许诺是不骗人的，相信他的人一定不会上当。我离开神学校确实是
对的。在那里，我一天到晚不得不干的就是把神的知识往一些傻瓜的脑袋里灌；教他们十五遍也
还是连一节书都记不住。”
几个月过去了，易卜拉欣准确无误地每日得到安拉许诺的食品。很自然地，他开始想，它们是哪
儿来的呢？如果他能找到食品被放入水中的地点，他就会亲睹一件奇迹，而以前他还从无这种经
历。他多么想拥有这份目睹奇迹的德行，而这又无疑会大大增加他圣徒的名声。
因此有一回，头天吃完了最后一份哈瓦之后，第二天早晨他就准备出发了。拿着自己的东西，他
开始向河上游慢慢走去。
他想：“唔，假如我猜得不错，今天我就会比往常早一点收到那甜美的食物，因为我离食物放到
水里的地方更近了。而我每天都会比前一天更早收到食物，最后我就能到达那个地点--真主从天
上派来的使者就在那儿把天宫美味放进河中。这是为了酬答我对仁慈的主的信念啊。”
易卜拉欣向河上游走了这些天，一直留神沿着河岸而行，眼光不离河水，生怕没认出哈瓦包儿而
把它错过了。每天，在一个更早些的钟点，哈瓦都必定漂过他眼前。因为离河岸很近，他可以很
容易地趟水把它捞起来。晚上他便就近找棵树，睡在树下。人们看他是位毛拉和圣徒，并不来打
扰他。
旅程的第四天，易卜拉欣看到河面变宽了。水中有一个很大的岛屿，上面是一座美丽的城堡。岛
上仿佛王侯领地一般，华贵的草地，缤纷的花园，窄窄的银色溪流纵横交错其间，后面是巨大山
峦的蓝色的齿形峰巅。城堡用雕冰也似的白色大理石建成，它影中的绿色草地向下一直铺展到静
静的、辽阔的金色沙岸。
夜色降临时，浪漫月光照射下的这个仙境发出璀璨的、天国一般的光辉。虔诚的易卜拉欣只能用
天宫来加以比拟。白色的城堡立在暗色的岩石上，仿佛白昼立于黑夜之上；桃金娘海碧色的影中
耸起亭阁的尖顶，亭中传来六弦琴和诗琴的乐音，还有令人沉醉的甜美歌声。生活在神学校里的
易卜拉欣怎么也不能相信人间会有如此曼妙的歌声。
易卜拉欣盯着这令人出神的奇妙美景，啜饮着花园里飘来的令人迷醉的歌声，怀疑自己是不是已
经死了，正站在天堂边上。就在这时，身旁传来一声粗哑的招呼声，问他在这里干什么。他赶紧
转过身，看见旁边站着一位古时候的人，归隐者装束，头发又长又乱，胡子也蓬成一团。
“萨拉姆，尊敬的长者，”他说着，松了一口气，因为跟所有平和的人一样，他害怕动武。“愿
慈悲仁爱的真主赐予您安宁。”
“你也一样，我的孩子，”隐士答道。“不过，这么晚了，象你这样的人都应该睡觉了，你在这
儿干嘛？”
“跟您一样，我也是位圣徒，”易卜拉欣奉承地答道，“现在我为了寻求某件事的答案而出来旅
行，只是我不能泄露这件事的内容。路经此地，远处那座城堡和周围一切的不寻常景象把我吸引
住了。如果您知道它的历史的话，我真想听听。”
“知道倒是知道，不过只是一部分，”隐士回答说，“我在这附近住了很多年，但并不怎么跟其
他人交谈。可以告诉你，你问起的那地方叫银堡，是一位已经去世的帕夏建的。他曾经深切地恋
慕着一位公主，可是公主的父亲拒绝把女儿嫁给他。在有的男人，爱情是如此的狂烈不羁、不容
拒绝。他在河中央建起了你现在看到的这座坚固的城堡，又用无数神秘可怕的魔法把它罩住，没
有他的许可，任何人都无法出入。然后他抢走了公主，跟她结了婚，把她安置在远处那座塔中。
那位国王--也就是公主的父亲--率领军队包围了这个地方。但是帕夏施的魔法太厉害了，国王只好
解围，眼看女儿落在敌人手里。”
“这太令人吃惊了，”易卜拉欣叫道，“这位公主现在还在这儿吗？”
“不，兄弟，”隐士回答说，“她和她丈夫一样已经故去了，不过身后留下一个女儿，现在正管
辖着城堡。这位女子美丽绝伦，日日沉浸在享乐中，花费着父亲遗赠给她的财富。只是有一件不
如意，就是没有人能解除她的帕夏父亲所施的魔法，所以这城堡谁也进不去，谁也出不来。陪伴
她的不是年纪很大的人，就是在岛上出生的，没别人。这对一位年轻貌美的女子来说肯定是件很
恼人的事。哎呀，兄弟，对不起，我现在正要到巴格达的一座圣徒墓去朝拜，那儿我每年去一次
，希图增长些德行。你呢，要是想休息，可以住在那边的寒舍中，我七天后才回来。”
易卜拉欣愉快地接受了隐士的好意。隐士走了以后，他坐下来沉思起刚听到的故事来。他这些年
研读所获得的智慧中有一样，就是对法术的洞悉。他想，也许解放这座城堡和岛上居民的任务就
是他的了--那些人被魔法罩在岛上，如同囚犯一般。
他一边寻思着就睡着了，直到日上三竿才醒来。洗完大净，他向河边赶去，在那儿坐下来，盯着
水面，留意寻找他天天收到的那种美食将现的痕迹。
他这么看着，却撞见了奇异的一幕。中午之前三个小时左右的样子，悬在河上的大理石城垛边出
现了一位非常漂亮的女子。她那么美，如同天上的仙女，毛拉被她的光艳惊讶得屏住了呼吸。她
的头发仿佛是巧手的金匠抻出的金丝，她的眼睛是黄色的，明亮得如同阿拉特山上的黄宝石，她
两颊红艳得象艾丝法罕的玫瑰。而她的皮肤，闪着银色的光泽，光滑，明爽。
“这会是那位公主吗？”易卜拉欣想，“还是天宫的使者？噢，不，当然是公主，因为她尽管如
此美丽，她终归还是人。”
易卜拉欣正站在那儿看她，就见她抬起手臂，把一样东西投进河中，然后就从城垛旁消失了，好
像一颗星隐到了云层后面。
毛拉注视着她扔在河中的东西，很快就明白了这正是他惯常天天收到的叶子包儿。他趟进河中，
捞起来，打开，里面装满了美味的哈瓦，跟平常一模一样。
“哈！”他一边吞咽着甘美的食物，一边自言自语，“现在我终于见识了这位光彩四射的人儿，
公正的、仁慈的安拉就是通过她的手赐给我每天的食品的。真的，一定是慈悲的主把这个念头种
在了这位神仙似的公主心里，她于是每天同一时间向河里投下美味。我难道不该努力报偿这异乎
寻常的善行吗：把她从包围着她、使她变成了囚徒的魔法中解救出来！她至少应该嫁给一位苏丹
，连巴格达都应该归她统治！”
带着这些感激的念头，他坐下来考虑应该如何解除笼罩着城堡的魔咒。他深深地入静，灵魂走在
精灵的世界里。因为他是位圣徒，所以并不会受到伤害。他来到相识的一个精灵阿戴牧的屋前，
把他叫出，攀谈起来。
“您好，圣者，”阿戴牧深深地鞠了一躬。“我是您的仆从。我能怎样为您效劳呢？”
易卜拉欣讲述了他到这里来的原因，精灵装模作样地拿出至为关切的神气。
“您的要求确实难极了，最智慧的易卜拉欣，”他疑疑惑惑地说，“但是让我立刻就此事去咨询
一下我的弟兄们，然后派迅速而可靠的使者来告知您我们商讨的结果。眼前我无法再多说或多做
什么了。”
于是易卜拉欣就离开了，不一会儿便从深度的恍惚中醒过来。他在精灵的王国里好像只呆了一个
小时，可实际上大概五个多小时都过去了：入静时日头正高，此时月光已在河面上泛着鳞光。他
以前听到过的优美音乐又从城堡的花园中飘起，仿佛是仙子的歌喉。
易卜拉欣正听得出了神，一个象月光般淡淡的影子从河中缓缓地升起，站到他面前，模模糊糊地
象一个精灵。它对着他鞠了三躬，开始说话了。
“最智慧、最圣洁的易卜拉欣，”它说，“我的主人、精灵世界的王子阿戴牧派我来通知您他的
顾问们的决议。他们送给您这个指环，上面有人称硬石的金刚钻；如果您盯着它闪闪发光的表面
，您就能发现将公主和她的人困在远处城堡中的符咒的秘密。发现了秘密，只要您召唤我们来帮
助打破符咒，我们就会以合适的装束出现，救出公主。”
说完这些话，精灵就回到河中消失了。易卜拉欣立刻把精灵掷在他脚下草中的指环捡起来，盯视
着环上闪光的钻石。
他当时就发现了第一层魔障。河岸附近有一道肉眼看不见、却如石砌般坚固的堡垒，横亘在岸与
岸之间，环绕着城堡。易卜拉欣召来了一批工兵装束、带着锤镐的精灵。它们成千上万一起猛攻
那道墙，在数不到一百下的时间里，就把它削平成了灰土。
易卜拉欣又看了一次钻石面，这回看见一张蜘蛛网似的大网悬在空中，罩着城堡。他于是召唤来
一批象鹰一样的精灵。它们用坚硬的喙猛啄那看不见的网，简直还来不及说清怎么回事，网就碎
了，落在河里。
易卜拉欣再看了一次钻石。他看见一队拿着长矛和弯刀的瞎眼巨人，在岛的四周布成战斗队形。
他召来更大、更有力的巨人样的精灵，和岛上的巨人打起来。它们的冲突真是可怕，他看得不住
地哆嗦。但不一会儿，精灵们就占了上风，岛上的巨人落荒而逃。
笼罩着城堡的符咒终于打破了。黎明到来的时候，易卜拉欣思量着怎么才能到城堡去。他刚这么
一想，一座桥就在精灵的神力下出现在河上，好让他能走到岛上去。他刚过去，就被一位手中持
镐的老人拦住，问他怎么上的这座长期被符咒控制的岛。
“这我只能告诉你的女主人--那位公主，”易卜拉欣说。“立刻带我去见她。”
惊异的卫士引领着他走过城堡的大门，穿过宽阔的庭院，庭院里泉水在叮咚歌唱。他们走进一间
华丽的大厅，地面上嵌着蓝色和白色的大理石方砖，墙上镶着碧琉璃和其它各样宝石。卫士把他
交给一位黑宦官来带领。
台上坐着那位举世无匹的公主，那位天天将哈瓦放进水中的公主，易卜拉欣曾在城垛上看到过的
。毛拉深鞠一躬，跪在她面前，讲述了自己的故事。
“最智慧的易卜拉欣啊，你给了我如此关键的帮助，你要求什么样的回报呢？”公主问道。“说
出来，你就会得到，哪怕是我承继财产的一半。”
“不，尊贵的夫人，”易卜拉欣叫道。“殿下您每日为我送来美味的食物，我的深深感激难道还
不足以使我为您效劳吗？您每天早晨从城垛上投下的哈瓦，顺流而来，我带着感谢将它们吃下。
不用说，只能是天使在您心中播下了这个念头。”
公主“腾”地红了脸，隔着面纱都能看出来。
“啊，好毛拉啊！”她绞着手说道。“你说的是什么呀？真该诅咒我头回将所谓的哈瓦放进河水
的那一天。告诉你，我习惯每天早晨用牛奶洗浴，然后用杏仁汁、糖和甜香的美容品搽涂手足四
肢。完了我再把这些东西从身体上擦下来，用叶子裹起来，扔到河里。”
“啊，公主，我现在才明白了谁是真正愚盲的，”易卜拉欣沮丧地喊起来，“真主的确赐给每个
人食物，但食物是哪种、有多么好，却取决于这人配什么！”
(This tale is from "World Tales" by Idries Shah. According to Shah, the explanation of the function of this tale given by a Central Asian story-teller is: the tale will confirm the bias of those who believe that humility is really living off the by-products of a total system; it will also encourage those who think that even those things which seem wonderful (the sweetmeat) are as nothing, seen from a wider perspective. But, for those who are ready to understand the truth: they will find this tale valuable to take them beyond such simple confirmations.
In another book by the same author, "Tales of the Dervishes", this story is told somewhat differently. We know from there that the author of the tale is Halqavi.)
鹤子 一九九九、十二、二十二 冬至夜
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Here's the first part of Your Highness' halwa which I appreciated so much.
作者：Ibrahim - 1999/12/29 00:21:40
***
The Food of Paradise
On the close of my visit to the Holy City Mecca, I joined the caravan of Sheikh Amru, who apart from being a great theological teacher, was a famous narrator of ancient tales. The occasion was when he asked me as to what calling I was going to choose after my wanderings. Somewhat humorously I said that I was going to do nothing for my living since Allah has promised to feed the Faithful.
"Listen my son," said the Sheikh, as he reclined against his camel's saddle; and then I knew that an ancient tale was to be retailed out to us. This is what he said:
In the school founded by the Caliph for the study of divine things sat the devout Mullah Ibrahim. his hands folded in his lap, in an attitude of meditation. Ibrahim taught students from all the countries of Islam, but the work was thankless and ill-paid, And as he sat there he thought on his state for the first time in many years.
"Why is it," he said to himself, "that a man so holy as I am must toil so hard to instruct a pack of blockheads, when others who have merited nothing through piety or attention to the Commands of Allah fare sumptuouslv every day and neither toil nor spin? O, Compassionate One, is not this thing unjust? Whereof should Thy servant be burdened, like an ass in the market-place, which carries two panniers, both filled to the top, and stumbles at every blow of the driver's slick?"
And as he considered, Ibrahim the Wise, as men called him, brought to mind that verse in the Holy Literature in which it says: "Allah will not let any one starve-" And taking deeper counsel with himself, he said: "May it not be that those whom I have blamed for their sloth and inactivity are, after all, the better Moslems, that they have greater faith than I? For, perusing this passage, they may have said to thernselves: "I will cast myself upon the mercy of Allah, which in this text is surely exdended to all men. Allah in his bounty will surely feed and maintain me." Why then toil and strive as the faithless do? It is those who have faith that are the elect."
At that moment a great Pasha halted before the gates of the seminary, in his piety alighting from his palanquin to give alms to a beggar, as all good Moslems do. And as Ibrahim watched him through the lattice, he thought: 'Does not the condition of the beggar as well as that of this pasha prove the justice of the text upon which I have been meditating? Neither starves, but the wealthier man is assuredly the more devout. for he is the giver and not the receiver, and for this very purpose has been blessed with the goods of this world. Why do I hesitate, wretched man that I am?
Shall I not as the Book ordains. cast myself on the bounty of Allah and free myself forever from the intolerable burden of instructing fools in a wisdom they can never understand?"
So saying, Ibrahim the Sage arose from his place in the College of the Caliph, and walked out of the City of Baghdad where he had dwell for many years It was evening, and betaking himself to the bank of the river, he selected a dry and shady spot beneath a spreading cypress tree, and awaiting the bounty of Allah, fell fast asleep in the certainty that the Lord of all Compassion would not fail him.
When he awoke, it was early morning, and a divine hush lay upon everything, lbrahim lazily speculated as to the manner in which he would be sustained. Would the birds of the air bring him sustenance, would the fishes from the stream leap ashore, offering themselves for the assuagement of his growing hunger? In what way did those who merited the help if Allah first receive it, if not in some miraculous manner? True, the wealthy were bequeathed riches by their parents.
But there must be a beginning. A pasha might sail down the river in his barge and supply his wants out of golden dishes and silver cups.
But morning blossomed into day, and day into night. and still the miracle remained unaccomplished. More than one pasha glided past him in his gilded barge, but these made only the customary salutations and gave no other sign. On the road above, pilgrims and travellers passed, but without taking the least notce of him. Hunger gnawed at his vitals, and he thought with envy of the millet porridge with goats' milk which the mullahs would now be enjoying at the seminary. Still was he trustful, and, as he made the customary ablutions in the river, his faith had abated not one jot.
Again he slept, and once more day dawned in scarlet and silver beauty. By this time he felt so faint as scarcely to be able to stand. The hours crept slowly onward. yet no sign came that his hunger was to be Satisfied.
At last, as midday approached with its stifling heat, something floating on the surface of the water caught his eye. It seemed like a mass of leaves wrapped up with fibre; and, wading into the river, he succeeded in catching it. Back he splashed with his prize to the bank, and sitting down on the sward, he opened the packet It contained a quantity of the most delicious looking halwa, that famous marzipan, of whose making only Baghdad knows the secret, a sweetmeat composed of sugar mingled with paste of almonds and attar of roses and other delicate and savoury essences.
After gorging himself with the delightful fare, lbrahim the Wise drank deeply from the river, and lolled on the grass, sure that his prayer had been answered, and that he would never have to toil more. There was sufficient of the ambrosial food to serve for three meals a day, and on each day, after the hour of midday prayer, a similar packet of halwa came floating down the stream as though placed there by the hands of angels.
"Surely," said the Mullah, "the promises of Allah are true, and the man who trusts in Him will not be deceived. Truly I did well to leave the seminary, where, day in , day out I had perforce to cram divine knowledge into the heads of idiots incapable of repeating a verse correctly even at the fifteenth attempt."
Months passed, and Ibrahim continued to receive the food that Allah had promised with unfailing regularity. Then. quite naturally, he began to speculate whence it came. If he could find the spot where it was deposited on the surface of the stream, sure he must witness a miracle, and as he had never done so, he felt greatly desirous of attaining the merit such a consummation would undoubtedly add to his repute as a holy man.
So one morning, after eating the last of the halwa he had received the preceding day, he girded up his loins, and taking his staff, began slowly to walk upstream.
"Now," said he, "if what I suppose be true, I will today receive my luscious food at an earlier hour than usual, as I shall be nearer the place where it is placed on the water and indeed on each day I shall receive at an even earlier hour, until at last I come to the spot where some divine seraph, sent by Allah from Paradise, drops the savoury food of heaven upon the stream in justification of my trust in the most Merciful."
For some days Ibrahim walked up-stream, keeping carefully to the bank of the river and fixing his eyes on its surface in case he should fail to discern the packet of halwa. Every day, at an even earlier hour, it floated regularly past him, carried by the current so near to the shore that he could easily wade out and secure it. At nights he slept beneath a convenient tree, and as men perceived him to be a Mullah and a holy man. no one thought of molesting him.
It was on the fourth day of his jouney that he observed the river had widened. In a large island in the midst of the stream rose a fair castle. The island comprised a princely domain of noble meadow-land and rich gardens, crossed and interlaced by the silver of narrow streams, and was backed by the blue and jagged peaks of great mountains. The castle itself was built of marble white as sculptured ice, and its green and shady lawns sloped dmvn to a silent and extensive shore of golden sand.
And when night descended. this wondrous region axes illuminated by the romance of moonlight into an almost unearthly radiance; so that Ibrahim, in all his piety, was forced to compare it with Paradise itself. The white castle on its dark rocks seemed like day pedestalled upon night and from the sea,green of the shadow of myrtles rose the peaks of pavilions, whence came the sound of guitars and lutes and voices more ravishingly sweet than Ibrahim, the son of the seminary, had ever believed earth could hold.
And as Ibrahim gazed spellbound at the wondrous spectacle and drank in the sounds of ecstasy which arose from the garden, wondering whether he were not already dead and in the purlieus of Heaven.. a harsh voice hailed him at his very elbow, asking him what he was doing there. He turned swiftly to see standing beside him an ancient man in the garb of a hermit with long matted hair and tangled beard.
"Salaam. good father," he said, much relieved, for like all men of peace, he feared violence. "The peace of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate.. be upon you."
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the second half of your halwa:-)
作者：Ibrahim - 1999/12/29 15:19:07
***
"And upon you, my son:' replied the anchorite. "But what do you do here at this hour of the night, when all such as you should be asleep?"
"Like yourself, I am a holy man,' replied Ibrahim, with unction, "but I travel on a q!gst the nature of which I may not divulge to any, Passing this spot, I was attracted by the unusual appearance of yonder castle and its surroundings, and would learn its history, If that is known to you,"
"it is, though in part only," rejoined the hermit, "for I have deck many years in this neighbourhood, but have little converse vath men. Know, then, that the place you behold is called the Silver Castle. It was built by a Pasha now dead, who "s greatly enamoured of a certain Princess, whose father refused him her hand in marriage. But, not to be gainsaid, so fierce and unruly a thing is love in some men, he built this strength in the midst of the liver as you see, and placed upon it so many dark and terrible spells of magic that none could cross to or from it without his sanction. Then, abductng the Princess, he espoused her and placed her in yonder tower. The King, her father, came with an army to besiege the place, but so potent were the necromances the Pasha had surrounded it with that he was compelled to raise the siege and leave his daughter in the hands of his enemy."
"You amaze me," cried Ibrahim. "And does this Princess remain here still?"
"No, brother," replied the Hermit, "like her lord she has passed away, but they have left behind them a daughter who governs the castle, a lady of surpassing beauty, who spends her days in pleasure and in spending the wealth her father bequeathed her. But she has but one sorrow, and that is that none can dissolve the spells woven by her father the Pasha, so that no one may either gain admittance to the castle or leave it.
Her companions are therefore either the very aged or those bom on the island and no other. which, for a young and beautiful woman, must be wearisome But you will pardon me, brother, I am going on a pilgrimage to a certain shrine in Baghdad, where I betake myself once a year to acquire merit. Mearrwhile if you choose to rest, you may dwell in my humble cell yonder until I return in seven days time."
Ibrahim gladly accepted the Hermil's offer. and when he had gone, sat down to ponder over the tale he had told him. Now, among other wisdoms, he had acquired during his years of study a deep knowledge of the magical art, and he bethought him that it might be given to him to rid the castle and the inhabitants of the spells which held them prisoner on the island.
But in the midst of his thoughts he fell asleep, and did not waken until the sun was high in the heavens. Then he made his ablutions, and betook himself to the bank of the river, where he sat and watched the surface of the water for a sign of the appearance of the delicious food he received daily.
And as he watched, he beheld a curious thing. Some three hours before midday, a very beautiful woman appeared on the marble battlements which overhung the rivers So fair was she that the Mullah gasped with surprise at the radiance of her beauty, which was that of the houris of Paradise. For her hair was as golden wire which is drawn thin by the cunning of the goldsmith, her eyes were yellow.. and bright as topazes found on Mount Ararat, and the colour of her cheeks was as that of the roses of Isfahan. And as for the flesh of her body, it shone with the lustre of silver. so brightly polished it was.
"Can this be the Princess?" thought Ibrahim, or an angel from heaven? Nay, surely it is she, for this woman, though surpassingly beautiful, is still a rnortal."
And as Ibrahim stood beholding her, she raised her arm and cast something into the river. And when she had done so, she withdrew from the battlements and disappeared like a star behind clouds.
The Mullah kept his eyes fixed on what she had cast into the stream, and in a little perceived that it was the very packet of leaves which he was wont to receive daily. Wading into the stream, he secured it unwrapped it, and found it full of the delicious halwa, as usual.
"Ha," said he, as he devoured the savoury sweetmeat "So now I know at last that radiant being by whose hands Allah, the Just the Merciful, has ordained I shall be fed daily. Truly, the Compassionate must have put it into the heart c-of this divine princess to cast this luscious food on the breast of the stream at the selfsame hour each day. And shall I not seek to repay her the distingushed kindness she has done me by freeing her from the spells by which she is encompassed, and which keep her a prisoner, she who should be wed to a Sultan at least and should reign in Baghdad itself?"
And with these grateful thoughts, he sat down to consider by what means the spells which surrounded the castle might be broken. Casting himself into a deep trance, he walked in spirit in the Land of the Jinn, where as a holy man, he could come to no harm. And coming to the house of one of the Jinn, whom he knew and whose name was Adhem, he summoned him and had speech with him.
"Hail, holy man," said Adhem, makng low obeisance. "I am your servant. In what way can I serve you?"
Ibrahim acquainted him with the reason for his presence there, at which the Jinn assumed an air of the greatest concem.
"What you ask is indeed hard, most wise Ibrahim," he said doubtfully. "But I will take counsel of my brethren on the matter without delay, and shall let you know the result of our deliberabons by a speedy and trusty messenger. No more can I say or do at present."
With this Ibrahim departed and soon after awoke from his trance. He seemed only to have been an hour in the Land of the Jinn, but it must have heen five hours or more, for the sun was high in the heavens when he fell asleep, and now the moonlight was sparkling on the waters of the river. And the same exquisite music he had heard before arose from the gardens of the castle, as though from the lips of peris.
And as Ibrahim listened, entranced, a shape scarcely more solid than the moonlight rose slowly out of the river and stood before him in the shadowy likeness of a Jinn. Three times it made obeisance before him, then it spoke.
"Most wise and holy Ibrahim" it said, "my master Adhem, a prince among the people of the Jinn, has sent me to acquaint you with the decision of his counsellors, ney proffer you this rng set with the diamond which men call adamant and in whose shining surface if you will gaze, you shall behold the nature of those spells which keep the Princess and her people prisoners in yonder castle. And, having discovered the nature of those spells, if you summon our people to your aid in such shapes as will dissolve or break them. they will come in such guise as will set the Princess free."
With those words the Jinn vanished into the river whence he had come. And, without delay, Ibrahim took the ring which the spirit had cast on the grass at his feet, and peered into the shining stone it held.
And straightaway he beheld the first spell. Close to the shore of the river arose a mighty bastion as of stone, invisible to mortal eyes, which surrounded the castle from shore to shore. And Ibrahim summoned to him the hosts of the Jinns in the guise of sappers, with picks and hammers, and on this wall they fell mightily in their myriads, so that without sound or clamour of any sort, they reduced it to dust ere a man
Then Ibrahim looked once more in the surface of the diamond and saw a great web like that of a spider hanging in the air round the castle. And he summoned the hosts of the Jinn in the shape of eagles, which so rent the invisible web with their strong beaks that in almost less time than it takes to tell of it, it fell in fragments into the stream.
Once more Ibrahim gazed into the stone, and this time he saw an army of sightless giants, with spear and scimitar in hand, drawn up in array of war on the shores of the island. And he called the Jinn people to him in -the likeness of greater and more powerful giants, who did battle with those on the island. Terrible was the strife, and Ibrahim trembled mightily as he watched it. But soon the Jinn prevailed over the giants of the island, and put them to flight
The spells which had surrounded the castle were now removed, and as day had dawned, Ibrahim cast about for some means of reaching the castle. No sooner had he wished this than by the power of the Jinn a bridge rose out of the stream by which he was enabled to cross to the island. And when he had done so, he was accosted by an old man who held a bared scimitar in his hand, and who asked him by what means he had been enabled to reach the island, which had so long been under enchantment.
"That I may tell only to your lady, the Princess," said Ibrahim. "Admit me to her presence without delay."
The guard, marvelling, ushered him through the great gate of the castle, and across a spacious court where fountains sang mellifluously. Entering a magnificent hall, whose floor was inlaid with squares of blue and white marble and the walls with lapis lazuli and other rare stones, he gave the Mullah into the keeping of a black eunuch, who requested the holy man to follow him
Upon a dais sat the incomparable Princess whom Ibrahim had beheld on the battlements, and who daily cast the packet of halwa on the waters of the river. To her the Mullah made obeisance, and, kneeling before her, told his tale.
"And what most wise Ibrahim, do you ask in recompense of your so notable offices on my behalf asked the Princess. "Speak, and it shall be granted to you, even to the half of my inheritance."
"Nay, noble lady," exclaimed Ibrahim. "For have I not reason enough to be grateful to your Highness for the delicious food with which you have fed me daily. That halwa which you cast every morning from the battlements, and which has floated down stream, I have eaten with thankfulness. Surely only an angel from Paradise could have put it into your heart to despatch it."'
The Princess blushed so deeply that her heightened colour could be seen even beneath her veil.
"Alas, good Mullah!" she cried, wringing her hands. "What is this you tell me? Curses on the day on which I first cast that halwa as you call it, on the waters of the river. Know, that each morning it is my custom to take a bath of rnilk, after which I anoint and rub my limbs with essence of almonds, sugar and sweet-scented cosmetics. These, then, I remove from my nakedness and, wrapping them in leaves, cast them into the stream."
"Ah, now Princess I see who has been blind." cried Ibrahim, with a wry countenance. "Allah surely gives food to everone; but its quality and kind are dictated by what man deserves!" --The End
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向最圣洁而智慧的毛拉致最真诚的祝福。Allah Bless You!
作者：Adhem - 1999/12/29 21:48:32
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