按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
d to these men he spoke thus； saying to them： 〃If ye shall happen to see me pass by here on such a night and at such an hour； and if ye shall see a man coming with me； slay him； for he well deserves it of me； and I will reward ye；〃 and they all said that that would be a very small service to do for him。 When that day had passed the traitor went to the King and said to him： 〃Sire； do not put off till to…morrow that which thou hast to do to…day； for I have the horses ready for thy escape； and have planned so to escort thee forth that even thy ladies shall not be aware of thy departure； nor any other person。 Come； Sire； to the garden； where I will await thee。〃 The King replied that his words were good and so he would do； and as soon as night was come and the hour arrived； the King went carefully out； and still more careful was he who for some time had awaited him； and he gave signal to the armed men； and as soon as he was come to the garden he passed between two of them who were the guards； and they threw themselves on the King and slew him； and forthwith buried him at the foot of a tree in the same garden。 And this being accomplished without their knowing whom they had slain； the traitor gave them his thanks； and returned to his inn to make ready to leave the city； and also so as not to give cause for talk therein。 And the next morning it was found that the King was missing； and though searched for throughout all the city no news of him could be heard； all the people thinking that he had fled somewhere； whence he would make war on Narsenayque。 And to Narsenayque the news was straightway brought； and he； feigning much sorrow at it； yet made ready all his horses and elephants in case the kingdom should be plunged into some revolution by the death of the king； although as yet he knew not for certain how the matter stood； save that the King had disappeared。 And afterwards the man came who had killed the King； and told him how it had been done and how secretly he had been slain； so that even the very men who had killed him knew not who it was； and Narsenayque bestowed upon him rich reward。 And since there was no news of the King； and he holding everything now under his hand； he was raised to be king over all the land of Narsymga。
And this king left at his death five sons； one was called Busbalrao； and another Crismarao； and another Tetarao； and another Ramygupa and another Ouamysyuaya。＇512＇
And this Busbalrao inherited the kingdom at the death of his father Narsenayque and reigned six years； during which he was always at war； for as soon as his father was dead the whole land revolted under its captains； who in a short time were destroyed by that King； and their lands taken and reduced under his rule。 During these six years the King spent； in restoring the country to its former condition； eight million gold PARDAOS。 This King died of his sickness in the city of Bisnaga； and before he died he sent for Salvatimya； his minister；＇513＇ and commanded to be brought to him his （the King's） son； eight years old； and said to Sallvatina that as soon as he was dead he must raise up this son to be king （though he was not of an age for that； and though the kingdom ought perhaps to belong to his brother Crisnarao） and that he must put out the eyes of the latter and must bring them to show him； in order that after his death there should be no differences in the kingdom。 Salvatina said that he would do so and departed； and sent to call for Crisnarao； and took him aside to a stable； and told him how his brother had bade him put out his eyes and make his son king。 When he heard this； Crisnarao said that he did not seek to be king； nor to be anything in the kingdom； even though it should come to him by right； that his desire was to pass through this world as a JOGI （ascetic； recluse）； and that he should not put his eyes out； seeing that he had not deserved that of his brother。 Sallvatina； hearing this； and seeing that Crisnarao was a man of over twenty years and therefore more fit to be king； as you will see farther on； than the son of Busbalrao who was only eight years old； commanded to bring a she…goat； and he put out its eyes； and took them to show the King； for already he was at the last hour of his life； and he presented them to him； and as soon as the King was dead his brother Crisnarao was raised to be king； whose eyes the late King had ordered to be torn out。
CHAPTER 5
Of the things done by King Crisnarao after he was raised to the throne。
As soon as Crisnarao was raised to be King and was obeyed throughout all his kingdom； Salvatine being his minister； who had been the same for his brother Busbalrao；＇514＇ he without delay sent his nephew； son of Busbalrao his brother； together with his own three brothers； to a fortress called Chaodegary； the nephew remained there till he died。 And after the King had done this for his own safety he stayed in the city of Bisnaga for a year and a half without going outside of it； learning the affairs of the kingdom and looking at the testaments of past kings。 Amongst these he found one of king Narsymga； whose minister his father Narsenayque had been； in which that King desired that his sons； or whoever should inherit this kingdom of Narsymga which he had gained by force of arms； should capture three fortresses that at his death remained in revolt against him； the which he had not himself taken because time failed him； one of them was called Rracholl；＇515＇ and another Medegulla。＇516＇
Crisnarao； seeing this testament and seeing how badly the kings his predecessors had acted in what had been enjoined on them； determined at once to prepare armies and to go against these places； and one of these fortresses was called Odigair； and it belonged to the King of Orya。 And； determining to go first against this； he collected （an army of） thirty…four thousand foot and eight hundred elephants； and arrived with this force at the city of Digary；＇517＇ in which there were ten thousand foot soldiers and four hundred horse； for the fortress had no necessity for more by reason of its great strength； because it could not be taken except by being starved out。
And the King laid siege to it for a year and a half； in which time he made many paths across rocky hills； breaking up many great boulders in order to make a road for his soldiers to approach the towers of the fortress。 The place at this time was so strong that they could not approach it except by one way which was so narrow that men could only pass along it one at a time； and in this place he made a broad road； and many others also； so that he could come close to the fortress。
And he took it by force of arms； and in it captured an aunt＇518＇ of the King of Orya； who was taken captive and carried off with all the courtesy that he could show her； having her liberty； and he took her along with himself。
And after this was done he called Salvatinya and bade him see how well he had performed that which king Narsymga had by his testament enjoined on him； and yet he said he was not content with such a trivial victory； for＇519＇ he desired to go forward a hundred leagues into the kingdom of Orya； and he ordered him to make ready provisions and pay fully the salari