天方夜谭英文故事：The Merchant and The Genie

Once upon a time, a very rich merchant lived in a city. He had a loving family and had all necessities of life provided for. Many a time, he left home to visit other kingdoms to spread his business and make new contacts. 

 

 

Once when he was to cross a desert to reach a far off town, he started early from home. He carried some water, dates and dry fruits to eat on the way. He went to the town and did great business. Then he returned home eagerly. 

 

 

On the way, in the desert, he felt very tired because it was noon. He saw an oasis¹ nearby and went to it. There he washed his face, had some fresh water and sat down to rest under the shade of a palm tree. He took out some dates that he was carrying and started eating them. While eating the dates he started throwing stones here and there and was looking for better shelter. Finally he got up and went to the pond to wash his hands. 

 

 

Just then he saw a fierce-looking large genie² running to him. He held a shining sword in his hand that he held high as if to strike. Soon enough the genie stood in front of the merchant. The genie roared, "You are going to be dead soon. I'll kill you as you dared to kill my only son!" 

 

 

"What! I killed your son," the merchant said in a shaky voice. "Yes. When you threw the stones, that hit my son's head and he was dead," the genie said. 

 

 

"I am sorry, sir, I didn't mean to harm your son. Please be kind and merciful!" the merchant begged. 

 

 

"I will hear none of your pleas. You'll be dead just as my son is. I will kill you right now." With these words, the genie pulled the merchant to the ground. He lifted his hand to strike the merchant. 

 

 

Then the merchant said, "Sir, you may do what you want to but please do fulfil my last wish." 

 

 

"Alright, what is your last wish?" the genie asked. The merchant replied. 

 

 

"Let me go to the city to meet my family for the last time. I'll go to the city, clear all my debts and dues, arrange some money for my family's future life and give alms to the poor so that I get a seat in heaven after my death." 

 

 

"Oh! That's a lot you ask for. And how long do you need for that?" the genie enquired³. 

 

 

"Sir, I'll need at least a year for all this. I promise that exactly a year from today. I'll meet you right here on the same spot. Then you can kill me to avenge⁴ your son's death," said the merchant. 

 

 

The genie grew thoughtful. Then he said, "But remember if you are not here twelve months after today, you'll die even a crueller death which I've set for you." 

 

 

The merchant bowed in agreement. Then he hastened to reach the city. He walked on for three days and finally reached his home. Once there he met his family and told them about what happened in the desert. The family could not bear to think of parting from him. They wept bitterly but the merchant said that he would have to keep the promise a year later. 

 

 

Next day, the merchant woke up early and soon got busy setting his business affairs. He met a lawyer and made a will. He gave all the dues to the other merchants. He gave food, clothes and dinars to the poor and needy⁵. He spent a lot of time with his family. 

 

 

Soon enough a year passed. Then the day dawned when the merchant was to meet the genie in the desert. He bid a tearful farewell to his wife and children. He then proceeded towards the desert with tears in his eyes. 

 

 

The merchant reached the oasis. There he waited on the spot here he had last seen the genie. As he waited anxiously, he saw old man approaching him. The old men lead a hind⁶. He came to the merchant and said, "Hello, what are you doing here all alone? Aren't you afraid of the genie that resides in these places?" 

 

 

The merchant greeted the old man. Then he told him his sad story. The old man was curious to see the genie so he decided⁷ to stay and ait with the merchant. A while later the merchant saw another old man approaching them. This old man was leading two black dogs. The old man with the dogs reached them and said, "Hello, others! What makes you sit here in the afternoon sun?" 

 

 

The old man with the hind narrated⁸ the merchant's sad tale. The old man with the dogs thought a while. Then he said, "I'll stay and watch the encounter between our brother here and the wicked genie." Saying so, he, too, sat down with the merchant to wait for the genie's arrival. Half an hour later, a fourth old man came to the spot. He, too, enquired what the three of them were waiting for. When he heard the merchant's tale and the genie's condition, he, too, sat down to see what would happen. 

 

 

A few minutes later, there was a loud thunder and the genie appeared before them from a cloud of smoke. His fiery⁹ red eyes and sword in his hand showed how angry and eager he was to kill the merchant. He' went to the merchant and threw him to the ground. 

 

 

“So you are here!" he roared. "Your time has come at last!" With these words, the genie lifted his hand high up in the air to strike merchant’s head with the sword. 

 

 

All the old men shook with fear and then started weeping with grief at the merchant's fate. Then the old man with the hind addressed the genie. "Oh! Genie, I bow before your power. Please hear my plea." 

 

 

“What do you want, old man?" the genie asked in an angry voice. Please listen to my story. If you find it more wonderful and rising than that of the merchant, you'll have to spare a third of merchant's life." 

 

 

The genie was angry but he grew curious to listen to the old man's. The old man with the hind then told his tale.  

1 oasis   

n.（沙漠中的）绿洲，宜人的地方

参考例句：

• They stopped for the night at an oasis.他们在沙漠中的绿洲停下来过夜。
• The town was an oasis of prosperity in a desert of poverty.该镇是贫穷荒漠中的一块繁荣的“绿洲”。

2 genie   

n.妖怪，神怪

参考例句：

• Now the genie of his darkest and weakest side was speaking.他心灵中最阴暗最软弱的部分有一个精灵在说话。
• He had to turn to the Genie of the Ring for help.他不得不向戒指神求助。

3 enquired   

打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问

参考例句：

• He enquired for the book in a bookstore. 他在书店查询那本书。
• Fauchery jestingly enquired whether the Minister was coming too. 浮式瑞嘲笑着问部长是否也会来。

4 avenge   

v.为...复仇，为...报仇

参考例句：

• He swore to avenge himself on the mafia.他发誓说要向黑手党报仇。
• He will avenge the people on their oppressor.他将为人民向压迫者报仇。

5 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。

6 hind   

adj.后面的，后部的

参考例句：

• The animal is able to stand up on its hind limbs.这种动物能够用后肢站立。
• Don't hind her in her studies.不要在学业上扯她后腿。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 narrated   

v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Some of the story was narrated in the film. 该电影叙述了这个故事的部分情节。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Defoe skilfully narrated the adventures of Robinson Crusoe on his desert island. 笛福生动地叙述了鲁滨逊·克鲁索在荒岛上的冒险故事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 fiery   

adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的

参考例句：

• She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
• His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。