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从前，一个法老在谋臣和仆从的陪伴下前往卜塔神庙。他碰巧去首席文书的住宅看了看。住宅后面有一座花园，里边有一幢避暑别墅和一个人工湖。 法老的随从中，有一个年轻人长得很英俊，文书的老婆脉脉含情地看着他。不久，她就赠送礼物给他，开始和他幽会。他们在别墅里呆了一天，吃喝作乐，晚上年轻人到湖里洗澡。男管家找到主人那儿，把事情的前前后后都告诉了他。 文书吩咐仆人拿来一个魔盒，用蜡做了一只鳄鱼，对着它念了一句咒语，然后，把鳄鱼交给男管家，说道：“下次那个年轻人洗澡时,把这个蜡像从他背后放进湖里。” 一天，趁着文书和法老在一起，那对情人又在别墅中相会。黄昏时分,年轻人来到了湖里。男管家偷偷穿过花园，悄悄地把蜡像扔到湖里。一瞬间，蜡像便有了生命，变成了一条大鳄鱼，一口叼住年轻人，把他拖走了。 七天过去了，文书向法老讲述了发生的奇迹，并请求陛下陪同他去自己的住宅。法老去后，他们站在花园的湖边上，文书念起了咒语,命令鳄鱼现身。那个大爬行动物叼着年轻人就从水里出来了。 文书说：“我命令它做什么它就做什么！" 文书并没有先下命令，而是碰了鳄鱼一下，它马上又变成了一个小蜡像。法老大惑不解,文书便向他讲述了发生的一切。年轻人站在一旁等待着。文书对鳄鱼说：“抓住这个坏蛋！"蜡像又有了生命，一口叼住年轻人，跳进了湖里，消失得无影无踪。以后，人们再也没有见到过它。 法老下令把文书的老婆抓起来，捆到房子北面的一根柱子上，将她活活烧死了，烧剩的残骸被抛到了尼罗河里。 注：卜塔，古埃及人尊奉的孟斐斯城主神,被认为是人类和众神之父、万物之父。 The Wax Crocodile Once upon a time a Pharaoh, accompanied by his counselors and servants went towards the temple of the god Ptah. It chanced that he paid a visit to the villa of the chief scribe, behind which there was a garden with a summer house and an artificial lake. Among those who followed Pharaoh was a handsome youth, and the scribe's wife beheld him with love. Soon afterwards she sent gifts to him, and they had secret meetings. They spent a day in the summer house, and feasted there, and in the evening the youth bathed in the lake. The butler then went to his master and informed him what had come to pass. The scribe bade the servant to bring a certain magic box, and he made a small wax crocodile, over which he muttered a spell. He placed it in the hands of the butler, saying，" Cast this image into the lake behind the youth when next he bathes himself.” On another day, when the scribe was with Pharaoh，the lovers were together in the summer house, and at eventide the youth went into the lake. The butler stole through the garden, and quietly he cast into the water the wax image, which was immediately given life. It became a great crocodile that seized the youth suddenly and took him away. Seven days passed, and then the scribe spoke to the Pharaoh regarding the wonder which had been done, and made request that His Majesty should accompany him to his villa. The Pharaoh did so, and when they both stood beside the lake in the garden the scribe spoke magic words, bidding the crocodile to appear. The great reptile came outof the water carrying the youth in its jaws. The scribe said, "Lo! It shall do whatever I command to be done.” Said the Pharaoh, "Bid the crocodile to return at once to the lake.” Before he did that, the scribe touched it, and immediately it became a small image of wax again. The Pharaoh was filled with wonder, and the scribe related to him all that had happened, while the youth stood waiting.Said His Majesty unto the crocodile,"Seize the wrong-doer.” The wax image was again given life, and, clutching the youth, leaped into the lake and disappeared. Nor was it ever seen after that. Then Pharaoh gave command that the wife of the scribe should be seized. On the north side of the house she was bound to a stake and burned alive, and what remained of her was thrown into the Nile. |
