一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第11部分

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hold；　up　came　Huboub；　on　her　way　to　do　her　mistress's　errand。　When　she　saw　him；　she　went　up　to　him　and　saluting　him；　gave　him　the　glad　news　of　her　mistress's　return；　saying；　'She　hath　sent　me　to　bid　thee　to　her。'　Whereat　he　rejoiced　with　an　exceeding　joy　and　she　took　him　and　returned　with　him　to　the　house。

When　Zein　el　Mewasif　saw　him；　she　came　down　to　him　from　the　couch　and　kissed　him　and　embraced　him　and　he　her；　nor　did　they　leave　kissing　and　embracing　till　they　swooned　away　for　stress　of　love　and　separation。　They　lay　a　long　while　senseless；　and　when　they　revived；　Zein　el　Mewasif　bade　Huboub　fetch　her　a　gugglet　of　sherbet　of　sugar　and　another　of　sherbet　of　lemons。　So　she　brought　what　she　desired　and　they　sat　eating　and　drinking　till　nightfall；　when　they　fell　to　recalling　all　that　had　befallen　them；　first　and　last。　Then　she　acquainted　him　with　her　conversion　to　Islam；　whereat　he　rejoiced　and　became　a　Muslim。　On　like　wise　did　her　women；　and　they　all　repented　to　God　the　Most　High　＇of　their　infidelity＇。　On　the　morrow　she　sent　for　the　Cadi　and　the　witnesses　and　told　them　that　she　was　a　widow　and　had　pleted　the　period　of　purification　and　was　minded　to　marry　Mesrour。　So　they　drew　up　the　marriagecontract　between　them　and　they　abode　in　all　delight　of　life。

Meanwhile；　the　Jew；　when　the　people　of　Aden　released　him　from　prison；　set　out　homeward　and　fared　on；　without　stopping；　till　he　came　within　three　days'　journey　of　the　city；　when　Zein　el　Mewasif　heard　of　his　ing　and　calling　Huboub；　said　to　her；　'Go　to　the　Jews'　burialplace　and　there　dig　a　grave　and　plant　on　it　sweet　basil　and　jessamine　and　sprinkle　water　thereabout。　If　the　Jew　e　and　ask　thee　of　me；　answer；　〃My　mistress　died　twenty　days　ago　of　chagrin　on　thine　account。〃　If　he　say；　〃Show　me　her　tomb；〃　take　him　to　the　＇mock＇　grave　and　weep　over　it　and　make　moan　and　lament　before　him。'　（22）　And　Huboub　answered；　'I　hear　and　obey。'　Then　they　laid　up　the　furniture　in　the　storeclosets；　and　Zein　el　Mewasif　removed　to　Mesrour's　lodging；　where　he　and　she　abode　eating　and　drinking；　till　the　three　days　were　past；　at　the　end　of　which　time　the　Jew　arrived　and　knocked　at　the　door　of　his　house。　Quoth　Huboub；　'Who　is　at　the　door？'　And　he　answered；　'Thy　master。'　So　she　opened　to　him　and　he　saw　the　tears　coursing　down　her　cheeks　and　said　to　her；　'What　ails　thee　to　weep　and　where　is　thy　mistress？'　Quoth　she；　'My　mistress　is　dead　of　chagrin　on　thine　account。'　When　he　heard　this；　he　wept　sore　and　was　confounded　and　said；　'O　Huboub；　where　is　her　tomb？'　So　she　carried　him　to　the　Jews'　burialground　and　showed　him　the　grave　she　had　dug；　and　he　wept　sore　and　recited　the　following　verses：

　　Two　things　there　are；　for　which　if　eyes　wept　tear　on　tear　Of　blood；　till　they　were　like；　indeed；　to　disappear；
　　They　never　could　fulfil　the　tithe　of　all　their　due；　And　these　are　prime　of　youth　and　loss　of　lovelings　dear。　
Then　he　wept　again　and　recited　these　also：

　　Alas　my　grief！　My　fortitude　bewrays　me　for　my　fair：　Since　she　I　love　is　gone；　I　die　of　misery　and　despair。
　　Woe's　me　for　my　beloved's　loss！　How　sore　it　is　on　me！　And　O　the　rending　of　my　heart　for　that　I　did　whilere！
　　Would　I　my　secret　in　my　time　had　not　revealed　and　eke　The　passion　in　my　heart　that　seethed　had　still　kept　hidden　there！
　　I　was　in　all　delight　of　life　and　solace；　now　she's　gone；　To　misery　and　abjectness；　alack！　I'm　vowed　fore'er。
　　Huboub；　thou　stirred　me　to　lament　with　tidings　of　her　death　Who　of　all　creatures　was　my　stay　and　solace　against　care。
　　Zein　el　Mewasif；　would　to　God　that　severance　had　not　been！　Would　he；　（23）　through　whom　my　soul　forsook　my　body；　had　been　ne'er！
　　I　do　repent　me　of　the　breach　of　vows　and　blame　myself　For　my　neglect　of　her　on　whom　my　hopes　still　builded　were。　
When　he　had　made　an　end　of　saying　this；　he　wept　and　groaned　and　lamented　till　he　fell　down　in　a　swoon；　whereupon　Huboub　made　haste　to　drag　him　to　the　grave　and　throw　him　in；　whilst　he　was　yet　insensible。　Then　she　stopped　up　the　grave　on　him　and　returning　to　her　mistress；　told　her　what　had　passed；　whereat　she　rejoiced　with　an　exceeding　joy　and　recited　the　following　verses：

　　Fate　swore　'twould　plague　me　without　cease　nor　leave　to　make　me　rue：　Thine　oath　is　broken；　Fate；　so　look　thou　fitting　penance　do。
　　The　censor's　dead　and　he　I　love　conjoined　is　with　me；　Up　then　unto　the　summoner　of　joys；　and　quickly　too！　
Then　she　and　Mesrour　abode　with　each　other　in　eating　and　drinking　and　sport　and　pleasure　and　good　cheer；　till　there　came　to　them　the　Destroyer　of　Delights　and　Sunderer　of　panies　and　Slayer　of　sons　and　daughters。



ALI　NOUREDDIN　AND　THE　FRANK　KING'S　DAUGHTER。

There　was　once；　of　old　days　and　in　bygone　ages　and　times；　in　the　parts　of　Cairo；　a　merchant　named　Tajeddin；　who　was　of　the　most　considerable　of　the　merchants　and　of　the　chiefs　of　the　freeborn　＇of　the　city＇。　He　was　given　to　travelling　to　all　parts　and　loved　to　fare　over　desert　and　down　and　stony　waste　and　to　journey　to　the　islands　of　the　sesame　in　quest　of　dirhems　and　dinars：　wherefore　he　had　in　his　time　encountered　dangers　and　suffered　hardships　of　gavel；　such　as　would　make　little　children　gray。　He　was　possessed　of　slaves　and　servants；　white　and　black　and　male　and　female；　and　was　the　wealthiest　of　the　merchants　of　his　time　and　the　goodliest　of　them　in　speech；　owning　horses　and　mules　and　Bactrian　and　other　camels　and　sacks；　great　and　small；　and　goods　and　merchandise　and　stuffs　beyond　pare；　such　as　Hems　muslins　and　Baalbek　silks　and　brocades　and　Merv　cottons　and　Indian　stuffs　and　Baghdad　gauzes　and　Moorish　burnouses　and　Turkish　white　slaves　and　Abyssinian　eunuchs　and　Greek　slavegirls　and　Egyptian　boys；　and　the　coverings　of　his　bales　were　of　goldembroidered　silk；　for　he　was　abundantly　wealthy。　Moreover　he　was　acplished　in　goodliness；　stately　of　Port　and　pleasant　of　position；　even　as　saith　of　him　one　of　his　describers：

　　A　certain　merchant　once　I　did　espy；　Between　whose　lovers　war　raged　fierce　and　high。
　　Quoth　he；　'What　ails　the　folk　to　clamour　thus？'　''Tis　for　thy　sake；　O　merchant；'　answered　I。　
And　saith　another　in　his　praise　lad　sail　well　and　acplisheth　the　wish　of　him：

　　A　merchant　came　to　visit　us；　whoso　eye　Did　with　its　glance　my　heart　still　stupefy。
　　Quoth　he；　'What　ails　thee　to　be　thus　amazed？'　'On　thine　account；　O　merchant；'　answered　I。　
He　had　a　son　called　Ali　Noureddin；　as　he　were　the　full　moon　whenas　it　waxeth　on　its　fourteenth　night；　a　marvel　of　beauty　and　grace；　elegant　of　shape　and　acplished　in　symmetry　who　was　sitting　one　day　in　his　father's　shop；　selling　and　buying　and　giving　and　taking；　as　was　his　wont；　when　the　sons　of　the　merchants　enpassed　him　about　and　he　was　amongst　them　as　the　moon　among　stars；　with　flowerwhite　forehead　and　rosy　cheeks；　covered　with　tender　down；　and　body　like　alabaster；　even　as　saith　of　him　the　poet：

　　A　fair　one　said；　'Describe　me　well；'　And　I；　'In　grace　thou　dost　excel。
　　Yea；　speaking　briefly；　all　in　thee　Is　lovely　and　acceptable。'　
And　as　saith　of　him　one　of　his　describers：

　　A　mole　on　as　cheek　he　hath；　as　'twere　a　grain　Of　ambergris　on　alabaster　plate；
　　And　swordlike　glances　that　proclaim　aloud　Against　Love's　rebels；　'Allah　is　Most　Great。'　（24）　
The　young　merchants　invited　him　＇to　go　with　them＇；　saying；　'O　my　lord　Noureddin；　we　wish　thee　to　go　this　day　apleasuring　with　us　in　such　a　garden。'　And　he　answered；　'＇Wait＇　till　I　consult　my　father；　for　I　cannot　go　without　his　consent。'　As　they　were　talking；　up　came　Tajeddin；　and　his　son　turned　to　him　and　said；　'O　my　father；　the　sons　of　the　merchants　have　invited　me　to　go　apleasuring　with　them　in　such　a　garden。　Dost　thou　give　me　leave　to　go？'　'Yes；　O　my　son；'　answered　his　father；　'go　with　them；'　and　gave　him　money。

So　he　mounted　a　mule　and　the　other　young　men　mounted　mules　and　asses；　and　they　all　rode　till　they　came　to　a　garden；　wherein　was　all　the　soul　desireth　and　that　charmeth　the　eye。　It　was　high　walled　and　had　a　vaulted　gateway；　with　a　portico　like　a　saloon　and　a　skyblue　door；　as　it　were　one　of　the　gates　of　Paradise。　Moreover；　the　name　of　the　doorkeeper　was　Rizwan；　（25）　and　over　the　gate　were　trained　a　hundred　trellises　of　grapes　of　various　colours；　the　red　like　coral；　the　black　like　negroes'　faces　and　the　white　like　pigeons'　eggs；　growing　in　clusters　and　singly：　even　as　saith　of　them　the　poet：　

　　Grapes；　as　the　taste　of　wine　their　savour　is；　I　trow：　The　black　thereof　in　hue　are　as　the　corbycrow；
　　And　shining　midst　the　leaves；　like　women's　fingers　dipped　In　henna　or　the　like　of　dye；　the　white　grapes　show。　
And　as　saith　another：

　　Grapeclusters；　that　show；　on　their　stalks　as　they　sway；　Like　my　body　for　languishment　wasted　away。
　　Like　honey　and　water　in　vases　are　they　And　their　juice　bees　wine；　after　sourness；　one　day。　
Then　they　entered　the　arbour　＇that　led　into　the　garden＇　and　saw　there　the　gatekeeper　sitting；　as　he　were　Rizwan；　guardian　of　Paradise；　and　on　the　door　were　written　these　verses：

　　A　garden　watered　was　of　God；　until　its　clusters　leant　And　dangled　all　and　for　excess　of　drink；　its　branches　bent。
　　When　in　the　Eastern　zephyr's　hand　its　sapling　dance　and　sway；　The　clouds　with　fresh　pearls　handsel　（26）　them　for　very　ravishment。　
And　within　the　arbour　were　written　the　following　verses：

　　Enter　with　us；　O　friend；　this　garden　fair；　That　cleanses　from　the　heart　its　rust　of　care。
　　Its　zephyrs　stumble　in　their　skirts　＇for　haste＇　And　in　their　sleeve　（27）　its　flowers　laugh　everywhere。　
So　they　entered　and　found　within　fruits　of　all　kinds　and　birds　of　all　sorts　and　colours；　such　as　the　ringdove　and　the　nightingale　and　the　curlew　and　the　turtle　and　the　cushat；　carolling　on　the　branches。　Therein　were　streams　that　ran　with　limpid　water　and　delightsome　flowers；　and　it　was　even　as　saith　of　it　the　poet：

　　The　zephyr　o'er　its　branches　breathes　and　sways　them　to　and　fro；　As　they　were　girls　that　in　their　skirts　still　stumble　as　they　go；
　　And　like　to　swords；　whenas　the　hands　of　horsemen　draw　them　forth　From　out　their　scabbards'　enveloped　its　silver　channels　show。　
And　again：

　　The　river　passes　by　and　laves　the　branches　with　its　flood　And　still　it　mirrors　in　its　heart　the　younglings　of　the　wood；
　　Which　when　the　zephyr　notes；　it　hastes　to　them　for　jealousy　And　forces　them　to　bend　away　from　out　its　neighbourhood。　
On　the　trees　of　the　garden　were　all　manner　fruits；　each　in　two　kinds；　and　amongst　them　the　pomegranate；　as　it　were　a　ball　of　silver　dross；　whereof　saith　the　poet　and　saith　well：

　　Pomegranates；　fineskinned；　like　the　breasts　of　a　maid；　Whenas；　rounded　and　firm；　to　the　sight　they're　displayed。
　　When　I　peel　them；　appear　to　us　rubies　galore；　Such　as　well　may　the　wit　with　amazement　invade。　
And　as　quoth　another：

　　To　him；　who　seeks　to　e　at　its　inside；　there　are　displayed　Rubies　together　pressed　and　clad　in　raiment　of　brocade。
　　I　liken　the　pomegranate；　when　I　look　on　it；　to　domes　Of　alabaster　or　to　breasts　of　unpolluted　maid。
　　Therein　is　healing　for　the　sick　and　thereanent　to　us　A　saying　（28）　of　the　Prophet　pure　tradition　hath　conveyed。
　　Yea；　and　a　word　most　eloquent；　written　in　the　Book；　（29）　thereof　God　（may　His　majesty　fore'er　be　magnified！）　hath　said。　（30）　
There　were　apples；　sugar　and　musk　and　Damani；　amazing　the　beholder；　whereof　saith　the　poet：

　　The　apple　in　itself　two　hues；　that　image　to　the　sight　The　cheeks　of　lover　and　belov