The Story of Sidi-Nouman 1

The Caliph, Haroun-al-Raschid, was much pleased with the tale of the blind man and the dervish（托钵僧）, and when it was finished he turned to the young man who had ill-treated his horse, and inquired his name also. The young man replied that he was called Sidi-Nouman. , ,"Sidi-Nouman," observed the Caliph, "I have seen horses broken all my life long, and have even broken them myself, but I have never seen any horse broken in such a barbarous（野蛮的） manner as by you yesterday. Every one who looked on was indignant, and blamed you loudly. As for myself, I was so angry that I was very nearly disclosing who I was, and putting a stop to it at once. Still, you have not the air of a cruel man, and I would gladly believe that you did not act in this way without some reason. As I am told that it was not the first time, and indeed that every day you are to be seen flogging and spurring your horse, I wish to come to the bottom of the matter. But tell me the whole truth, and conceal ¹ nothing." , ,Sidi-Nouman changed colour as he heard these words, and his manner grew confused; but he saw plainly that there was no help for it. So he prostrated（使……屈服） himself before the throne of the Caliph and tried to obey, but the words stuck in his throat, and he remained silent. , , ,Reassured ³ by the kindness of the Caliph, Sidi-Nouman at length began his tale. , ,"Commander of the Faithful," said he, "dazzled though I am by the lustre ⁴ of your Highness' presence, I will do my best to satisfy your wishes. I am by no means perfect, but I am not naturally cruel, neither do I take pleasure in breaking the law. I admit that the treatment of my horse is calculated to give your Highness a bad opinion of me, and to set an evil example to others; yet I have not chastised ⁵ it without reason, and I have hopes that I shall be judged more worthy ⁶ of pity than punishment." , ,He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦
。,Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。