Story of the Blind Baba-Abdalla 2

"My brother," I said, "I am unwilling¹ to part from you without pointing out what I think you scarcely grasp, that large experience of camel-driving is necessary to anybody who intends to keep together a troop of thirty. In your own interest, I feel sure you would be much happier if you entrusted² ten more of them to me, for with my practice it is all one to me if I take two or a hundred." 

 

As before, the dervish made no difficulties, and I drove off my ten camels in triumph, only leaving him with twenty for his share. I had now sixty, and anyone might have imagined that I should be content. 

 

But, Commander of the Faithful, there is a proverb that says, "the more one has, the more one wants." So it was with me. I could not rest as long as one solitary³ camel remained to the dervish; and returning to him I redoubled my prayers and embraces, and promises of eternal gratitude⁴, till the last twenty were in my hands. 

 

"Make a good use of them, my brother," said the holy man. "Remember riches sometimes have wings if we keep them for ourselves, and the poor are at our gates expressly that we may help them." 

 

My eyes were so blinded by gold, that I paid no heed⁵ to his wise counsel, and only looked about for something else to grasp. Suddenly I remembered the little box of ointment⁶（药膏） that the dervish had hidden, and which most likely contained a treasure more precious than all the rest. Giving him one last embrace, I observed accidentally, "What are you going to do with that little box of ointment? It seems hardly worth taking with you; you might as well let me have it. And really, a dervish who has given up the world has no need of ointment!" 

 

Oh, if he had only refused my request! But then, supposing he had, I should have got possession of it by force, so great was the madness that had laid hold upon me. However, far from refusing it, the dervish at once held it out, saying gracefully⁷, "Take it, my friend, and if there is anything else I can do to make you happy you must let me know." 

 

Directly the box was in my hands I wrenched⁸ off the cover. "As you are so kind," I said, "tell me, I pray you, what are the virtues¹⁰ of this ointment?" 

 

"They are most curious and interesting," replied the dervish. "If you apply a little of it to your left eye you will behold¹¹ in an instant all the treasures hidden in the bowels¹² of the earth. But beware lest you touch your right eye with it, or your sight will be destroyed for ever." 

 

His words excited my curiosity to the highest pitch. "Make trial on me, I implore¹³ you," I cried, holding out the box to the dervish. "You will know how to do it better than I! I am burning with impatience¹⁴ to test its charms." 

 

The dervish took the box I had extended to him, and, bidding me shut my left eye, touched it gently with the ointment. When I opened it again I saw spread out, as it were before me, treasures of every kind and without number. But as all this time I had been obliged to keep my right eye closed, which was very fatiguing¹⁵, I begged the dervish to apply the ointment to that eye also. 

 

"If you insist upon it I will do it," answered the dervish, "but you must remember what I told you just now--that if it touches your right eye you will become blind on the spot." 

 

Unluckily, in spite of my having proved the truth of the dervish's words in so many instances, I was firmly convinced that he was now keeping concealed¹⁶ from me some hidden and precious virtue⁹ of the ointment. So I turned a deaf ear to all he said. 

 

"My brother," I replied smiling, "I see you are joking. It is not natural that the same ointment should have two such exactly opposite effects." 

 

"It is true all the same," answered the dervish, "and it would be well for you if you believed my word." 

 

But I would not believe, and, dazzled by the greed of avarice¹⁷, I thought that if one eye could show me riches, the other might teach me how to get possession of them. And I continued to press the dervish to anoint my right eye, but this he resolutely¹⁸ declined to do. 

 

"After having conferred such benefits on you," said he, "I am loth indeed to work you such evil. Think what it is to be blind, and do not force me to do what you will repent¹⁹ as long as you live." 

 

It was of no use. "My brother," I said firmly, "pray say no more, but do what I ask. You have most generously responded to my wishes up to this time, do not spoil my recollection of you for a thing of such little consequence. Let what will happen I take it on my own head, and will never reproach you." 

 

"Since you are determined²⁰ upon it," he answered with a sigh, "there is no use talking," and taking the ointment he laid some on my right eye, which was tight shut. When I tried to open it heavy clouds of darkness floated before me. I was as blind as you see me now! 

 

"Miserable²¹ dervish!" I shrieked²², "so it is true after all! Into what a bottomless pit has my lust²³ after gold plunged²⁴ me. Ah, now that my eyes are closed they are really opened. I know that all my sufferings are caused by myself alone! But, good brother, you, who are so kind and charitable, and know the secrets of such vast learning, have you nothing that will give me back my sight?" 

 

"Unhappy man," replied the dervish, "it is not my fault that this has befallen you, but it is a just chastisement²⁵. The blindness of your heart has wrought²⁶ the blindness of your body. Yes, I have secrets; that you have seen in the short time that we have known each other. But I have none that will give you back your sight. You have proved yourself unworthy of the riches that were given you. Now they have passed into my hands, whence they will flow into the hands of others less greedy and ungrateful than you." 

 

The dervish said no more and left me, speechless with shame and confusion, and so wretched that I stood rooted to the spot, while he collected the eighty camels and proceeded on his way to Balsora. It was in vain that I entreated²⁷ him not to leave me, but at least to take me within reach of the first passing caravan²⁸. He was deaf to my prayers and cries, and I should soon have been dead of hunger and misery²⁹ if some merchants had not come along the track the following day and kindly³⁰ brought me back to Bagdad. 

 

From a rich man I had in one moment become a beggar; and up to this time I have lived solely³¹ on the alms that have been bestowed³² on（赠与，授予） me. But, in order to expiate³³ the sin of avarice, which was my undoing³⁴, I oblige each passer-by to give me a blow. 

 

This, Commander of the Faithful, is my story. 

 

When the blind man had ended the Caliph addressed him: "Baba-Abdalla, truly your sin is great, but you have suffered enough. Henceforth repent in private, for I will see that enough money is given you day by day for all your wants." 

 

At these words Baba-Abdalla flung himself at the Caliph's feet, and prayed that honour and happiness might be his portion for ever.

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