The Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor 9

When I had somewhat recovered I began to examine the spot in which I found myself, and truly it seemed to me that I had reached a garden of delights. There were trees everywhere, and they were laden¹ with flowers and fruit, while a crystal stream wandered in and out under their shadow. When night came I slept sweetly in a cosy²（舒适的） nook（角落，隐匿处）, though the remembrance that I was alone in a strange land made me sometimes start up and look around me in alarm, and then I wished heartily³ that I had stayed at home at ease. However, the morning sunlight restored my courage, and I once more wandered among the trees, but always with some anxiety as to what I might see next. I had penetrated⁴ some distance into the island when I saw an old man bent⁵ and feeble（微弱的） sitting upon the river bank, and at first I took him to be some ship-wrecked mariner⁶（水手，船员） like myself. Going up to him I greeted him in a friendly way, but he only nodded his head at me in reply. I then asked what he did there, and he made signs to me that he wished to get across the river to gather some fruit, and seemed to beg me to carry him on my back. Pitying his age and feebleness, I took him up, and wading⁷ across the stream I bent down that he might more easily reach the bank, and bade him get down. But instead of allowing himself to be set upon his feet (even now it makes me laugh to think of it!), this creature who had seemed to me so decrepit⁸（衰老的，破旧的） leaped nimbly upon my shoulders, and hooking his legs round my neck gripped me so tightly that I was well-nigh choked, and so overcome with terror that I fell insensible to the ground. When I recovered my enemy was still in his place, though he had released his hold enough to allow me breathing space, and seeing me revive he prodded⁹ me adroitly¹⁰ first with one foot and then with the other, until I was forced to get up and stagger about with him under the trees while he gathered and ate the choicest fruits. This went on all day, and even at night, when I threw myself down half dead with weariness, the terrible old man held on tight to my neck, nor did he fail to greet the first glimmer¹¹ of morning light by drumming upon me with his heels, until I perforce（一定，必须） awoke and resumed my dreary¹² march with rage and bitterness in my heart. 

 

It happened one day that I passed a tree under which lay several dry gourds¹⁴, and catching¹⁵ one up I amused myself with scooping¹⁶ out its contents and pressing into it the juice of several bunches of grapes which hung from every bush. When it was full I left it propped¹⁷ in the fork of a tree, and a few days later, carrying the hateful old man that way, I snatched at my gourd¹³ as I passed it and had the satisfaction of a draught¹⁸ of excellent wine so good and refreshing¹⁹ that I even forgot my detestable burden, and began to sing and caper²⁰. 

 

The old monster was not slow to perceive the effect which my draught had produced and that I carried him more lightly than usual, so he stretched out his skinny hand and seizing the gourd first tasted its contents cautiously, then drained them to the very last drop. The wine was strong and the gourd capacious（宽敞的）, so he also began to sing after a fashion, and soon I had the delight of feeling the iron grip of his goblin legs unclasp, and with one vigorous effort I threw him to the ground, from which he never moved again. I was so rejoiced to have at last got rid of this uncanny old man that I ran leaping and bounding down to the sea shore, where, by the greatest good luck, I met with some mariners²¹ who had anchored off the island to enjoy the delicious fruits, and to renew their supply of water. 

 

They heard the story of my escape with amazement²², saying, "You fell into the hands of the Old Man of the Sea, and it is a mercy that he did not strangle you as he has everyone else upon whose shoulders he has managed to perch²³ himself. This island is well known as the scene of his evil deeds, and no merchant or sailor who lands upon it cares to stray far away from his comrades." After we had talked for a while they took me back with them on board their ship, where the captain received me kindly²⁴, and we soon set sail, and after several days reached a large and prosperous-looking town where all the houses were built of stone. Here we anchored, and one of the merchants, who had been very friendly to me on the way, took me ashore²⁵ with him and showed me a lodging²⁶ set apart for strange merchants. He then provided me with a large sack, and pointed²⁷ out to me a party of others equipped in like manner. 

 

"Go with them," said he, "and do as they do, but beware of losing sight of them, for if you strayed your life would be in danger." 

 

With that he supplied me with provisions, and bade me farewell, and I set out with my new companions. I soon learnt that the object of our expedition was to fill our sacks with cocoanuts, but when at length I saw the trees and noted²⁸ their immense height and the slippery smoothness of their slender trunks, I did not at all understand how we were to do it. The crowns of the cocoa-palms were all alive with monkeys, big and little, which skipped from one to the other with surprising agility²⁹, seeming to be curious about us and disturbed at our appearance, and I was at first surprised when my companions after collecting stones began to throw them at the lively creatures, which seemed to me quite harmless. But very soon I saw the reason of it and joined them heartily, for the monkeys, annoyed and wishing to pay us back in our own coin, began to tear the nuts from the trees and cast them at us with angry and spiteful gestures, so that after very little labour our sacks were filled with the fruit which we could not otherwise have obtained. 

 

As soon as we had as many as we could carry we went back to the town, where my friend bought my share and advised me to continue the same occupation until I had earned money enough to carry me to my own country. This I did, and before long had amassed³⁰ a considerable sum. Just then I heard that there was a trading ship ready to sail, and taking leave of my friend I went on board, carrying with me a goodly store of cocoanuts; and we sailed first to the islands where pepper grows, then to Comari where the best aloes wood is found, and where men drink no wine by an unalterable law. Here I exchanged my nuts for pepper and good aloes wood, and went a-fishing for pearls with some of the other merchants, and my divers³¹ were so lucky that very soon I had an immense number, and those very large and perfect. With all these treasures I came joyfully³² back to Bagdad, where I disposed of them for large sums of money, of which I did not fail as before to give the tenth part to the poor, and after that I rested from my labours and comforted myself with all the pleasures that my riches could give me. 

 

Having thus ended his story, Sindbad ordered that one hundred sequins should be given to Hindbad, and the guests then withdrew; but after the next day's feast he began the account of his sixth voyage as follows.

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