天天书屋

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第21部分（第1页）

ame　up　and　made　inquiry　of　the　soldiers　who　it　was　who　had　sought　entrance。　And　they　said　to　him，　“It　is　a　beggar　and　the　child　of　a　beggar，　and　we　have　driven　him　away。”

“Nay，　”　he　cried，　laughing，　“but　we　will　sell　the　foul　thing　for　a　slave，　and　his　price　shall　be　the　price　of　a　bowl　of　sweet　wine。　”

And　an　old　and　evil…visaged　man　who　was　passing　by　called　out，　and　said，　“I　will　buy　him　for　that　price，”　and，　when　he　had　paid　the　price，　he　took　the　Star…Child　by　the　hand　and　led　him　into　the　city。

And　after　that　they　had　gone　through　many　streets　they　came　to　a　little　door　that　was　set　in　a　wall　that　was　covered　with　a　pomegranate　tree。　And　the　old　man　touched　the　door　with　a　ring　of　graved　jasper　and　it　opened，　and　they　went　down　five　steps　of　brass　into　a　garden　filled　with　black　poppies　and　green　jars　of　burnt　clay。　And　the　old　man　took　then　from　his　turban　a　scarf　of　figured　silk，　and　bound　with　it　the　eyes　of　the　Star…Child，　and　drave　him　in　front　of　him。　And　when　the　scarf　was　taken　off　his　eyes，　the　Star…Child　found　himself　in　a　dungeon，　that　was　lit　by　a　lantern　of　horn。

And　the　old　man　set　before　him　some　mouldy　bread　on　a　trencher　and　said，　“Eat，　”　and　some　brackish　water　in　a　cup　and　said，　“Drink，”　and　when　he　had　eaten　and　drunk，　the　old　man　went　out，　locking　the　door　behind　him　and　fastening　it　with　an　iron　chain。

And　on　the　morrow　the　old　man，　who　was　indeed　the　subtlest　of　the　magicians　of　Libya　and　had　learned　his　art　from　one　who　dwelt　in　the　tombs　of　the　Nile，　came　in　to　him　and　frowned　at　him，　and　said，　“In　a　wood　that　is　nigh　to　the　gate　of　this　city　of　Giaours　there　are　three　pieces　of　gold。　One　is　of　white　gold，　and　another　is　of　yellow　gold，　and　the　gold　of　the　third　one　is　red。　Today　thou　shalt　bring　me　the　piece　of　white　gold，　and　if　thou　bringest　it　not　back，　I　will　beat　thee　with　a　hundred　stripes。　Get　thee　away　quickly，　and　at　sunset　I　will　be　waiting　for　thee　at　the　door　of　the　garden。　See　that　thou　bringest　the　white　gold，　or　it　shall　go　ill　with　thee，　for　thou　art　my　slave，　and　I　have　bought　thee　for　the　price　of　a　bowl　of　sweet　wine。　”And　he　bound　the　eyes　of　the　Star…Child　with　the　scarf　of　figured　silk，　and　led　him　through　the　house，　and　through　the　garden　of　poppies，　and　up　the　five　steps　of　brass。　And　having　opened　the　little　door　with　his　ring　he　set　him　in　the　street。

And　the　Star…Child　went　out　of　the　gate　of　the　city，　and　came　to　the　wood　of　which　the　Magician　had　spoken　to　him。

Now　this　wood　was　very　fair　to　look　at　from　without，　and　seemed　full　of　singing　birds　and　of　sweet…scented　flowers，　and　the　Star…Child　entered　it　gladly。　Yet　did　its　beauty　profit　him　little，　for　wherever　he　went　harsh　briars　and　thorns　shot　up　from　the　ground　and　enpassed　him，　and　evil　tles　stung　him，　and　the　thistle　pierced　him　with　her　daggers，　so　that　he　was　in　sore　distress。　Nor　could　he　anywhere　find　the　piece　of　white　gold　of　which　the　Magician　had　spoken，　though　he　sought　for　it　from　morn　to　noon，　and　from　noon　to　sunset。　And　at　sunset　he　set　his　face　towards　home，　weeping　bitterly，　for　he　knew　what　fate　was　in　store　for　him。

But　when　he　had　reached　the　outskirts　of　the　wood，　he　heard　from　a　thicket　a　cry　as　of　some　one　in　pain。　And　forgetting　his　own　sorrow　he　ran　back　to　the　place，　and　saw　there　a　little　Hare　caught　in　a　trap　that　some　hunter　had　set　for　it。

And　the　Star…Child　had　pity　on　it，　and　released　it，　and　said　to　it，　“I　am　myself　but　a　slave，　yet　may　I　give　thee　thy　freedom。　”

And　the　Hare　answered　him，　and　said：　“Surely　thou　hast　given　me　freedom，　and　what　shall　I　give　thee　in　return？”

And　the　Star…Child　said　to　it，　“I　am　seeking　for　a　piece　of　white　gold，　nor　can　I　anywhere　find　it，　and　if　I　bring　it　not　to　my　master　he　will　beat　me。　”

“e　thou　with　me，　”　said　the　Hare，　“and　I　will　lead　thee　to　it，　for　I　know　where　it　is　hidden，　and　for　what　purpose。　”

So　the　Star…Child　went　with　the　Hare，　and　lo！　in　the　cleft　of　a　great　oak…tree　he　saw　the　piece　of　white　gold　that　he　was　seeking。　And　he　was　filled　with　joy，　and　seized　it，　and　said　to　the　Hare，　“The　service　that　I　did　to　thee　thou　hast　rendered　back　again　many　times　over，　and　the　kindness　that　I　showed　thee　thou　hast　repaid　a　hundred…fold。　”

“Nay，”　answered　the　Hare，　“but　as　thou　dealt　with　me，　so　I　did　deal　with　thee，　”　and　it　ran　away　swiftly，　and　the　Star…Child　went　towards　the　city。

Now　at　the　gate　of　the　city　there　was　seated　one　who　was　a　leper。　Over　his　face　hung　a　cowl　of　grey　linen，　and　through　the　eyelets　his　eyes　gleamed　like　red　coals。　And　when　he　saw　the　Star…Child　ing，　he　struck　upon　a　wooden　bowl，　and　clattered　his　bell，　and　called　out　to　him，　and　said，　“Give　me　a　piece　of　money，　or　I　must　die　of　hunger。　For　they　have　thrust　me　out　of　the　city，　and　there　is　no　one　who　has　pity　on　me。　”

“Alas！”　cried　the　Star…Child，　“I　have　but　one　piece　of　money　in　my　wallet，　and　if　I　bring　it　not　to　my　master　he　will　beat　me，　for　I　am　his　slave。　”

But　the　leper　entreated　him，　and　prayed　of　him，　till　the　Star…Child　had　pity，　and　gave　him　the　piece　of　white　gold。

And　when　he　came　to　the　Magician’s　house，　the　Magician　opened　to　him，　and　brought　him　in，　and　said　to　him，　“Hast　thou　the　piece　of　white　gold？”　And　the　Star…Child　answered，　“I　have　it　not。”　So　the　Magician　fell　upon　him，　and　beat　him，　and　set　before　him　an　empty　trencher，　and　said，　“Eat，　”　and　an　empty　cup，　and　said，　“Drink，　”　and　flung　him　again　into　the　dungeon。

And　on　the　morrow　the　Magician　came　to　him，　and　said，　“If　to…day　thou　bringest　me　not　the　piece　of　yellow　gold，　I　will　surely　keep　thee　as　my　slave，　and　give　thee　three　hundred　stripes。　”

So　the　Star…Child　went　to　the　wood，　and　all　day　long　he　searched　for　the　piece　of　yellow　gold，　but　nowhere　could　he　find　it。　And　at　sunset　he　sat　him　down　and　began　to　weep，　and　as　he　was　weeping　there　came　to　him　the　little　Hare　that　he　had　rescued　from　the　trap，　and　the　Hare　said　to　him，　“　Why　art　thou　weeping？　And　what　dost　thou　seek　in　the　wood？”

And　the　Star…Child　answered，　“I　am　seeking　for　a　piece　of　yellow　gold　that　is　hidden　here，　and　if　I　find　it　not　my　master　will　beat　me，　and　keep　me　as　a　slave。　”

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