天方夜谭英文故事：Test of Demon for Honesty

Once upon a time there lived a poor merchant. One day he returned from the market in the evening. As he was tired he sat down on a shady¹ three to take rest for a while. Leaning on the tree he began to eat a pocket of dates. After eating the dates he threw the nut behind. 

 

There was a frightening sound around him and the entire place was shaking for a while. The merchant stood up terrified behind the tree. He saw a wicked² demon³ with an ugly face. On seeing the demon his legs started shivering⁴ and he could not stand firmly on the ground. “ 

 

“You silly man why are you throwing stones on me? I was sleeping calmly. You have disturbed my sleep. You have to die for this". It shouted in a thundering voice. 

 

Some how the merchant gathered his courage and said, “Majesty, I don’t throw stones on you. I had no idea to disturb you. I just threw the nuts of dates that I have eaten. I am very sorry. So please forgive me". 

 

But the demon said, "You are cheating me with your cunning⁵ words. I will kill you now". 

 

The poor merchant pleaded⁶ to the demon. "If you want to kill me, you can kill me after my last wish". The demon asked, "What is that?" The merchant requested, you allow me to go to my house once. I will settle my debts to the others and say last words to my family before my death". 

 

The demon believed his words and allowed him to do as he liked. But it asked him to come the next day itself. The merchant went to his house and settled all his debts and said with tears. “I am to bind⁷ my promise to the demon. So I want to go now to the demon". 

 

The Demon saw the merchant coming back to it as he promised. Then it wanted to test his honesty. "I am very happy now. I want to test you now. I will ask the first three men passing by about you. If they talk good about you, I will leave you to go home". The demon said and waited for three persons. 

 

The first man came there. He was old. The demon stopped him and asked him, "Do you know this merchant?" 

 

The old man said, "Yes, I know him very well. He is very kind of me and helped me when I was robbed by the thieves". The Demon felt happy. 

 

The second man came. He was a judge. The Demon stopped the judge and asked, “Do you know this merchant", The judge replied that he brought a man who cheated him in the trade. When I gave punishment to him, the merchant asked him to forgive". The demon smiled for a while. 

 

The third man came. He was a very rich man. The Demon asked him the same question. The rich man thought for some time and then said, “Yes, yes, he helped me once to start my business, with his help now I am very rich". 

 

Then the Demon was quite satisfied and said, “I think, you are a good man really. You go home and join your family and live long." 

 

The merchant thanked the Demon and the three men on the way. Then he returned back home and lived happily.  

1 shady   

adj.成荫的，多荫的，可疑的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• This is a shady avenue.这是条林阴大道。
• He's a rather shady person.他是个相当靠不住的人。

2 wicked   

adj.邪恶的，恶劣的，缺德的；淘气的

参考例句：

• Let everyone know all the wicked things she has done.把她干的坏事给大家抖搂抖搂。
• The wicked must be wiped out.恶人必须除掉。

3 demon   

n.魔鬼，恶魔

参考例句：

• The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。
• He has been possessed by the demon of disease for years.他多年来病魔缠身。

4 shivering   

adj.颤抖的v.（因寒冷，害怕等）颤抖，哆嗦( shiver的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was shivering with cold. 冻得他哆嗦开了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He was so cold that he kept shivering. 他冻得直哆嗦。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 cunning   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；n.狡猾，奸诈

参考例句：

• A spy used cunning means to find out secrets.间谍使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• The fox is known for its cleverness and cunning.狐狸的机敏和狡猾是人所共知的。

6 pleaded   

恳求，请求( plead的过去式和过去分词 )； 提出…为借口[理由]； （向法庭）陈述案情； （在法庭）申辩，认罪，辩护

参考例句：

• She pleaded with him not to go. 她恳求他不要离开。
• She wept and pleaded until he agreed to do as she wished. 她哭着恳求他，一直到他答应按她的愿望去做。

7 bind   

vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬

参考例句：

• I will let the waiter bind up the parcel for you.我让服务生帮你把包裹包起来。
• He wants a shirt that does not bind him.他要一件不使他觉得过紧的衬衫。