Sindbad the Sailor

Sindbad and Hindbad

辛巴达与欣巴达

In the times of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid there lived in Bagdad a poor porter named Hindbad, who on a very hot day was sent to carry a heavy load from one end of the city to the other. Before he had accomplished half the distance he was so tired that, finding himself in a quiet street where the pavement was sprinkled with rose water, and a cool breeze was blowing, he set his burden upon the ground, and sat down to rest in the shade of a grand house. Very soon he decided that he could not have chosen a pleasanter place; a delicious perfume of aloes wood and pastilles came from the open windows and mingled with the scent of the rose water which steamed up from the hot pavement. Within the palace he heard some music, as of many instruments cunningly played, and the melodious warble of nightingales and other birds, and by this, and the appetising smell of many dainty dishes of which he presently became aware, he judged that feasting and merry making were going on. He wondered who lived in this magnificent house which he had never seen before, the street in which it stood being one which he seldom had occasion to pass. To satisfy his curiosity he went up to some splendidly dressed servants who stood at the door, and asked one of them the name of the master of the mansion.

在哈里发哈伦·拉希德统治的时代，巴格达住着一个名叫欣巴达的穷苦力。在一个极其炎热的日子里，他奉命将沉重的货物从城的一头挑到另一头。路程还没走完一半，他就已经筋疲力尽了。这时，他发现自己来到了一条宁静的街道上，路面洒着玫瑰水，微风徐徐吹来，于是他便把担子放在地上，坐在一座宏伟宅邸的阴凉处歇息。很快，他便认定自己再也选不出比这更宜人的地方了：敞开的窗户里飘出沉香与熏香丸的芬芳，同滚烫石板路上蒸腾出的玫瑰水香气交融在一起。在宅邸内，他听到了音乐声，仿佛由多种乐器巧妙合奏而成，还伴有夜莺与其它鸟儿悦耳的啼鸣。听着这些声响，又闻到了阵阵扑鼻的佳肴香气，他断定里面正在大摆筵席、欢宴作乐。他不禁纳闷，究竟是谁住在这座他从未见过的豪宅里，因为他平日极少有机会路过这条街道。为了满足好奇心，他走到守在门前几名衣着华丽的仆人跟前，向其中一人打听宅邸主人的名字。

"What," replied he, "do you live in Bagdad, and not know that here lives the noble Sindbad the Sailor, that famous traveller who sailed over every sea upon which the sun shines?"

“什么，”那名仆人答道，“你住在巴格达，竟然不知道这里住着尊贵的航海家辛巴达？那位航行过日光普照下的每一片汪洋大海的著名旅行家？”