萨马拉城之约

A merchant in Baghdad sends his servant to the marketplace for provisions. Soon afterward, the servant comes home white and trembling and tells him that in the marketplace he was jostled by a woman, whom he recognized as Death, and she made a threatening gesture. Borrowing the merchant's horse, he flees at great speed to Samarra, a distance of about 75 miles (125 km), where he believes Death will not find him. The merchant then goes to the marketplace and finds Death, and asks why she made the threatening gesture. She replies, "That was not a threatening gesture, it was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Baghdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra."

萨马拉城之约 ——毛姆

译：永远的麦克白

巴格达的一个商人派遣他的仆人到市场去采购食物。

不久，仆人回到家，浑身颤抖，告诉商人：“在那个集市上，我被一个人推搡，他身着黑袍，我知道他是死神。死神对我做了一个恐吓的手势，我知道我大限将至，但我不相信命运，也不相信死神。”

仆人借着商人的马，迅速地逃到距离巴格达约75英里（125公里）的萨马拉。这么远的距离，仆人相信死神不会找到他。

商人随后来到集市，看见了仆人所说的身着黑袍的死神。

商人问死神：“你为什么要对我的仆人做出威胁的手势？”

死神回答说：“这不是一个威胁的手势，这只是一个让我惊喜的开始。我很惊讶地看到你的仆人在巴格达；我做那个手势的意思是：今晚我在萨马拉等着他的到来。”