第15章 THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT(13)

Yes！'Then the Afrit made his voice small and humbled himself and said'What wilt thou do with meO fisherman？'I mean to throw thee back into the sea，'replied he；'since thou hast lain there already eighteen hundred yearsthou shalt lie there now till the hour of judgment. Did I not say to thee'Spare meso God may spare thee；and do not kill melest God kill thee？'but thou spurnedst my prayers and wouldst deal with me no otherwise than perfidiously. So I used cunning with thee and now God has delivered thee into my hand.'Said the Afrit'Let me outthat I may confer benefits on thee.'The fisherman answered'Thou liestO accursed one！Thou and I are like King Younan's Vizier and the physician Douban.'Who are they，'asked the Afrit'and what is their story？'Then said the fisherman'Know O Afrit，that Story of the Physician Douban.

There was once in a city of Persia a powerful and wealthy king，named Younanwho had guards and troops and auxiliaries of every kind： but he was afflicted with a leprosywhich defied the efforts of his physicians and wise men. He took potions and powders and used ointmentsbut all to no availand not one of the doctors could cure him. At lastthere came to the King's capital city a great physicianstricken in yearswhose name was Douban： and he had studied many booksGreekancient and modern，and Persian and Turkish and Arabic and Syriac and Hebrewand was skilled in medicine and astrologyboth theoretical and practical. Moreover he was familiar with all plants and herbs and grasseswhether harmful or beneficialand was versed in the learning of the philosophers；in briefhe had made himself master of all sciencesmedical and other. He had not been long in the town before he heard of the leprosy with which God had afflicted the Kingand of the failure of the physicians and men of science to cure him；whereupon he passed the night in study；and when the day broke and the morning appeared and shonehe donned his richest apparel and went in to the King and kissing the ground before himwished him enduring honour and fair fortunein the choicest words at his command. Then he told him who he was and said to him'O KingI have learnt what has befallen thee in thy person and how a multitude of physicians have failed to find a means of ridding thee of it： but I will cure theeO Kingand that without giving thee to drink of medicine or anointing thee with ointment.'When the King heard thishe wondered and said to him'How wilt thou do this？ By Allahif thou cure meI will enrich theeeven to thy children's childrenand I will heap favours on theeand whatever thou desirest shalt be shineand thou shalt be my companion and my friend.'Then he gave him a dress of honour and made much of himsaying'Wilt thou indeed cure me without drugs or ointment？'Yes，'answered Douban'I will cure thee from without.'Whereat the King marvelled exceedingly and said'O physicianwhen wilt thou do as thou hast said？ Make hasteO my son！'Quoth Douban'I hear and obey： it shall be done tomorrow.'

And he went down into the city and hired a housein which he deposited his books and medicines. Then he took certain drugs and simples and fashioned them into a mallwhich he hollowed out and made thereto a handle and a balladapted to it by his art. Next morning he presented himself before the King and kissing the ground before himordered him to repair to the tilting ground and play at mall there. So the King mounted and repaired thither with his amirs and chamberlains and viziersand hardly had he reached the appointed place when the physician Douban came up and presented him with the mall and ball he had preparedsaying，'Take this mall and grip the handle thus and drive into the plain and stretch thyself well and strike this ball till thy hand and thy body sweatwhen the drugs will penetrate thy hand and permeate thy body. When thou hast done and the medicine has entered into theereturn to thy palace and enter the bath and wash. Then sleep awhile and thou wilt awake curedand peace be on thee！'The King took the mall and mounting a swift horse，threw the ball before him and drove after it with all his might and smote it： and his hand gripped the mall firmly. And he ceased not to drive after the bail and strike ittill his hand and all his body sweatedand Douban knew that the drugs had taken effect upon him and ordered him to return and enter the bath at once. So the King returned immediately and ordered the bath to be emptied for him. They turned the people out of the bathand his servants and attendants hastened thither and made him ready change of linen and all that was necessary： and he went in and washed himself well and put on his clothes. Then he came out of the bath and went up to his palace and slept there. When he awokehe looked at his body and found it clean as virgin silverhaving no trace left of the leprosy： whereat he rejoiced exceedingly and his breast expanded with gladness. Next morninghe repaired to the Divan and sat down on his chair of estateand the chamberlains and grandees attended on him. Presentlythe physician Douban presented himself and kissed the earth before the king and repeated the following verses：

The virtues all exalted arewhen thou art styled their sire：

None else the title dares acceptof all that men admire.

Lord of the radiant browwhose light dispels the mists of doubt From every goal of high emprize whereunto folk aspire，Ne'er may thy visage cease to shine with glory and with joy，Although the face of Fate should gloom with unremitting ire！

Even as the clouds pour down their dews upon the thirsting hills，Thy grace pours favour on my headoutrunning my desire.

With liberal hand thou casteth forth thy bounties far and nigh，And so hast won those heights of fame thou soughtest to acquire.