Zgodba o kraljeviču popotniku

Besedilo

Zgodba o kraljeviču popotniku

Then the vizier said, “Know, O King, that in the lands of the West there was a king unjust in his rule, a cruel and overbearing tyrant who neglected the welfare of his subjects and of all who entered his kingdom. No one came into his realm without having four-fifths of his wealth taken as a levy, leaving him only one-fifth. Now God had granted this king a fortunate and upright son. Seeing how crooked were the ways of the world, the boy renounced it while still young and went forth as a wandering devotee of Almighty God. Forsaking the world and all it held, he roamed the wilderness and the deserts in God’s service, entering towns along his way. One day he came to that city, and when he reached the guards, they seized and searched him. They found nothing upon him but two garments, one new and the other worn. They stripped him of the new one and left him the old, after insulting and humiliating him. He began to protest, saying, ‘Shame on you, you oppressors! I am a poor man and a wandering devotee. What good can this garment possibly do you? If you do not give it back, I shall go to the king and complain of you.’ They answered, ‘We have done this by the king’s command. Do whatever you please.’ So the wanderer walked on until he reached the king’s residence and sought to enter, but the chamberlains barred his way. He withdrew, saying to himself, ‘There is nothing for it but to watch for him to come out, and then complain to him of my plight and what has befallen me.’ While he waited thus for the king to appear, he heard a soldier announce his coming. Little by little he edged forward until he stood opposite the gate, and suddenly the king came out. The wanderer stepped into his path, prayed for his victory, and told him what the guards had done, lamenting his condition. He explained that he was a man devoted to God, who had renounced the world and gone forth seeking Almighty God’s pleasure, wandering over the earth. All those to whom he came treated him kindly according to their means, and in this fashion he passed through every town and village. Then he said, ‘When I entered this city, I hoped its people would treat me as other wandering devotees are treated. Instead, your servants stopped me, stripped me of one of my garments, and beat me cruelly. Look into my case, lend me your aid, and recover my garment for me, and I shall not remain in this city a single hour.’ The unjust king answered, ‘Who advised you to enter this city without knowing how its king deals with people?’ He replied, ‘Once I have my garment back, do with me as you will.’ When the tyrant heard these words from the wanderer, his temper changed, and he said, ‘You fool! We stripped you of your garment to humble you, and since you have raised such an outcry in my presence, I shall strip you of your life.’ Then he ordered him cast into prison.

“Once in prison, the wanderer began to regret the answer he had given and reproached himself for not having let the matter rest and escaped with his life. At midnight he rose and prayed at length, saying, ‘O God, You are the just Judge. You know my condition and all that has passed between me and this tyrannical king. I am Your oppressed servant, and I beseech You, out of Your abundant mercy, to save me from this unjust king’s hands and bring Your vengeance upon him, for You do not overlook the oppression of any oppressor. If You know that he has wronged me, let Your vengeance fall upon him this very night, and send down Your punishment upon him, for Your judgment is just, and You are the succour of all who cry out in distress, O You whose power and majesty endure to the end of time!’ When the jailer heard the poor man’s prayer, every limb of his body trembled with fear. While he was in this state, a fire suddenly broke out in the palace where the king was staying and consumed everything within it, even the prison gate. None escaped but the jailer and the wanderer. The wanderer set out with the jailer, and they journeyed on until they reached another city. As for the unjust king’s city, it was burned to the ground because of its ruler’s tyranny. But as for us, O fortunate King, evening and morning we pray for you and thank Almighty God for the blessing of your presence, secure in your justice and good governance. We were greatly troubled because you had no son to inherit your kingdom, fearing that another king might rule over us after you. Now Almighty God, in His bounty, has favoured us, dispelled our sorrow, and brought us joy through the birth of this blessed boy. We therefore ask Almighty God to make him a worthy successor and grant him enduring glory and happiness and everlasting good.” Then the fifth vizier rose and said, “Blessed be God the Great…” But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.

When it was the nine hundred and sixth night

She said, “It has reached me, O fortunate King, that the fifth vizier said, ‘Blessed be God the Great, the Bestower of good gifts and splendid blessings! Now, we know for certain that God bestows His favour upon those who thank Him and remain faithful to His religion. You, O fortunate King, possess these noble virtues, dealing justly and equitably with your subjects in a manner pleasing to Almighty God. For this reason God has exalted your station, blessed your days, and bestowed upon you this goodly gift, this fortunate son, after hope had faded. Through him we have gained lasting joy and unceasing gladness. Before this, we were sorely troubled and deeply grieved because you had no son. We thought of the justice and compassion you bear towards us and feared that God might decree your death while you had no one to succeed you and inherit the kingdom after you. Then our counsels would be divided, discord would arise among us, and we would suffer what befell the crow.’ The king asked, ‘And what is the story of the crow?’”