Volume Seven-第49章

Then he besought them for company and amity and，when they saw his friendly behaviour to them，they welcomed him and gladly accepted his offer. So they struck up a sincere friendship and sware thereto；and they slept in one place and they ate and drank together；nor did they cease dwelling in safety，eating and drinking their fill，till one day there came thither a ship which had strayed from her course in the sea. She cast anchor near them and the crew came forth and dispersed about the island. They soon caught sight of the three friends，antelope，peahen and duck，and made for them；whereupon the peahen flew up into the tree and thence winged her way through air；and the antelope fled into the desert，but the duck abode paralyzed by fear. So they chased her till they caught her and she cried out and said，'Caution availed me naught against Fate and Lot！'and they bore her off to the ship. Now when the peahen saw what had betided the duck，she removed from the island，saying，'I see that misfortunes lie in ambush for all. But for yonder ship，parting had not befallen between me and this duck，because she was one of the truest of friends.'Then she flew off and rejoined the antelope，who saluted her and gave her joy of her safety and asked for the duck，to which she replied，'The enemy hath taken her，and I loathe the sojourn of this island after her.'Then she wept for the loss of the duck and began repeating，'The day of parting cut my heart in twain：